McCann Strengthens Strategic Leadership

NEW YORK and DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- McCann today announced that it has appointed Kris Shaffer as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, McCann Detroit and Veda Partalo as Executive Vice President, Head of Brand Strategy, McCann New York.

"One of the biggest compliments you get in this business is when amazingly talented people want to come work with you," said Steve Zaroff, Chief Strategy Officer, McCann North America. "We're delighted that Kris and Veda have joined McCann, bringing fresh perspective and energy to our strategic leadership teams in Detroit and New York." 

Shaffer most recently served as EVP, Global Chief Strategy Officer, for Hudson Rouge in Detroit and New York, where she led the business and communication strategy across key global markets in the U.S., Canada, China and the Middle East. Prior to that, she was EVP, Chief Strategy Officer, at Blue Hive Shanghai. Shaffer has also held senior strategy roles at Team Detroit and Young & Rubicam, where she led global product and strategy development immersions and created brand and communication strategies to drive integrated messaging.

"Our team closed out a year of incredible new client growth and talent expansion in 2016," said Mel Smart, Executive Vice President and General Manager, McCann Detroit. "I'm confident that Kris will help us maintain this momentum as we continue to build a deep and varied creative center in Detroit."

Partalo joins the strategic leadership team in New York that includes David Broad, Head of Communications Strategy, and Gemma Craven, Director of Social and Mobile. She most recently ran advertising strategy at United, a branding startup with a focus on tech brands. Before that, she led strategy on multiple brands at Droga5 and has also held senior positions at Fallon and 72andSunny. Her work has spanned major brands including American Express, Adidas, Porsche and Cadillac. 

Chris Macdonald, President, McCann North America, said: "Kris and Veda signal our determination to continue to lure the best talent to help our clients find meaningful roles for their brands in today's world and drive results for their businesses." 

About McCann Worldgroup
McCann Worldgroup, part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), is a leading global marketing services company with 24,000 employees in more than 100 countries, comprising McCann (advertising), MRM//McCann (digital marketing/relationship management), Momentum Worldwide (total brand experience), McCann Health (professional/dtc communications), CRAFT (global adaptation and production), UM (media management), Weber Shandwick (public relations), FutureBrand (consulting/design), ChaseDesign (shopper marketing) and PMK-BNC (entertainment/brand/popular culture).

SOURCE McCann Worldgroup