Marks, part of SGS & Co

❤️🎄 It’s the holidays and oh! the joy of watching our little ones gleefully tear the wrapping from their newest LEGO set. We sit down together by the tree and… *insert your own warm fuzzy memories and wild imagination here*. But sadly, not everyone has those same magical experiences. You can change that. Did you know that for every heart we build, post and tag with #BuildToGive on socials, LEGO will donate one set to a child in need of play? We’re super proud to work with a brand who gives back and makes a positive change. Here’s some of the hearts from our LEGO creative team. Why not get involved, too? Build a heart and share the joy with LEGO. We can’t think of a reason not to…

We’ve had an amazing year at Marks. We expanded the business, evolved our partnerships and on-boarded new clients all around the world. But, most amazing is how we’ve grown our team. After all best people = best agency. We’ve welcomed new top talent – Paul Doherty, Victoria Bell, Nicola Stockmann, Maureen McKenna, Giles Darwin, Sarah Bustin, Katya Cunningham and many, many more. And we’ve created some awesome new opportunities as well – Jennifer Murtell, how are you enjoying Amsterdam 🇳🇱; Marija Kiric, technology transformation never ran so smooth 💾; Julie Sincich-Caporal, I know, a lot more airplanes 🛫😄. Massive kudos to Kurt Kretten, Caroline Day, Martin Simpson, and Danny Lye for quietly assembling the brightest minds as we continuously strive for the most talented, and also the most human, agency possible. To everyone at Marks, part of SGS & Co, and to all our partners, here’s to even bigger and better things in 2025. Thank you for all we have achieved together … and enjoy a snapshot of some of our favorites from 2024. Cheers.

We are at an amazing inflection point in our journey where opportunity and imagination collide. We have a big, bold, ambitious vision that requires equally bold leaders. Enter Caroline Day, our Senior Vice President of Client Services, who joined us last February. Caroline has been pivotal in cultivating that vision: Marks as a global creative platform. Caroline joined Marks from WPP, where she was Global Client Managing Director at Hogarth, leading transformative omnichannel experiences for Volvo, Essilor Luxottica, and Reckitt, ensuring holistic access to the breadth and depth of WPP’s expertise and capabilities. Formerly Managing Partner and Head of Client Services at Publicis Groupe, Caroline spearheaded excellence in client services for Digitas, while leveraging innovative technology to deliver digital experiences for Formula 1, Visa, and GSK. Caroline’s drive to advance, integrate and globalise our partnerships has played a significant role in the transformation of our business. In focussing on how to deliver industry leading value, creativity and innovation at global scale, the foundation of our offering is stronger than ever before. “The pace of change in our world is unreal, and the balance of power between brand and consumer has turned on its head: brands follow, operate, create, and evolve in a forever beta mode. Brands and their agencies have struggled to keep pace. We need to change,” says Caroline. Bringing into the fold some of the most talented senior leaders in the market, her mission has been to enable a service model that harnesses all four critical sides of the agency ecosystem – for every client. Client partnership, robust programme delivery, creative excellence and strategic insight are at the centre of every engagement, designed to accelerate and enhance client connectivity with the depth and breadth of Marks’ expertise and capabilities; the personal, small agency becomes scalable. “It’s all about how we connect, how we listen” she says. Reflecting, on the past 10 months, Caroline continues: “Now we have the talent, capability and expertise, united under one P&L, to evolve brands and create for them at the speed of culture, completing our vision of a plug and play creative platform, available wherever, whenever, no matter the need. The creative platform is genius, that’s for sure: it’s beautiful work that’s both scalable and super agile. But, for me, what really makes us different is the humanity and integrity that drives Marks from the top and reverberates throughout the agency. Now I’m where I want to be, with the people I want to work with and there’s nothing to stand in our way.” Join us in celebrating Caroline and all that she brings to Marks. Bring on 2025! #Leadership #ClientServices #MarketingExcellence #MakeMarks

🎉 Please join us in welcoming our New Vice President of Client Services for Europe – a really critical hire for us, Paul Doherty! 🎉 He’ll take the lead unlocking the potential of Marks on behalf of each of our European clients, in collaboration with our SLT, with the ambition to elevate and globalize our partnerships. Paul enjoyed a distinguished career at Publicis Group, where he was most recently Managing Partner of Growth at Digitas and credited with delivering an incredible double-digit performance. During that time, Paul welcomed new clients across media, brand communications, customer engagement and specialist digital products, landing transformational initiatives for clients such as ASOS, Mondelez, EON, and Samsung. Prior to that Paul led a strong portfolio of clients such as Haleon and Kellanova as Managing Partner of Client Services. 🚀   Paul chose Marks for our ambitious vision, relishing the opportunity to help our clients plug into our creative platform at any point in their marketing lifecycle, and to help them deliver innovation-led brand creative at the speed of culture. He is particularly excited to embed and familiarize himself with our diverse and expert creative community and further unleash our potential.   If you’re lucky enough to meet Paul, his calm, thoughtful and kind manner shines. Paul’s true talent lays in his ability to really listen, hearing what’s said and that which is not in equal measure. It’s this natural, powerful ability to hear and understand the true needs of his clients to which Paul owes his success.   But don’t let Paul’s quiet demeanor fool you… No introvert, he also loves to own the stage. Paul is a passionate music enthusiast who has been DJing since his teens and has performed all over London, even doing a Friday night slot on Radio 1! He enjoys singing folk music with his choir, Bellow Fellows, in which he finds joy in connecting with people of all ages from all walks of life. He values the strong community and bonds he has forged in his adopted city, considering himself an East Londoner – just with bit of a funky (Glaswegian!) accent.   Paul – the warmest of welcomes to the Marks family. We are confident that your leadership, innovative mindset, and dedication to client success will be invaluable as we continue to build towards our ambitious vision.   #Welcome #NewLeadership #MakeMarks #ClientService #MarketingExcellence

🔥Hot off the press!🔥 Nicola Stockmann has joined Marks in the role of Global Client Lead. In this role she will steer the expansion and excellence agenda for the Amsterdam studio, focussing on driving value for our global clients in collaboration with the Marks SLT, to spearhead our growth as a global creative platform. In her previous role within WPP, Nicola was Head of Client Leadership at Design Bridge and Partners. Here, not only did she head the client leadership team in Amsterdam, but she also led the design capability within WPP Open X, partnering with Coca-Cola to deliver marketing transformation at scale. We’re ecstatic she’s become a part of our team! 🎉 Nicola has an impressive background as a growth focused leader in various senior management roles in brand design, advertising, digital marketing and communications agencies such as GREY, AKQA and Landor. From leading a multi-OpCo transformation team, developing the EMEA content-hub and building the digital performance marketing capabilities for Volvo, to developing experiences and events for Polestar and managing brand creation and implementation programs for Akzo Nobel, Citi Group and Logitech, Nicola brings deep expertise gained while working some with the world’s biggest agency, consumer and service brands. Nicola’s personal life and cultural experiences are as diverse as her professional journey. Born to a German mother and a British father, Nicola grew up in South Shields (wey-aye, pet!) and has lived and worked across various continents including Europe, the United States, and Asia. She currently lives “het gezellige leven”, residing in Amsterdam with her partner and sons. Thriving on a balance of social and solitary activities, you’ll find Nicola socialising with friends and family as well as relishing peaceful moments, whether practicing yoga or walking her beloved chocolate Labrador.   Nicola's decision to join Marks stemmed from our company's scale and abundant opportunities for growth. She is excited about innovating with a dynamic leadership team that values collaboration, partnership and humanity above all else, and embedding herself amongst a diverse group of expert creatives from all corners of the globe.   Nicola – we’re honoured to have you. Join us in wishing Nicola the warmest of welcomes. We can’t wait for what you’ll undoubtedly bring. 🚀 #Welcome #MakeMarks #ClientService #Excellence #Transformation #Leadership #BrandCreative

🚀 You just can’t stop us! Introducing you today to 🍾 Giles Darwin, our new Group Account Director, as he settles into the Marks family. Giles joins us from the specialist and renowned agency, Denomination, where he was Managing Director. Giles began his illustrious career in South Africa. He relocated to the UK to be closer to his family and went on to forge deep expertise in Wine, Sprits and Luxury with Design Bridge and Partners, Coley Porter Bell, Lewis Moberly, and JDO. Giles brings us a wealth of expertise and an infectious passion for the industry. With an impressive track record building global brands like Johnny Walker and Guinness, and even creating them for some incredibly famous personalities (all you have to do is ask him!), Giles’ ability to maneuver through complex challenges and drive innovation is second to none. His exceptional – keep calm and let’s crack on – style of client servicing and team leadership, accompanied by his natural strategic capabilities, have consistently led to remarkable achievements for the brands and agencies he’s had the honour to work with. Giles chose to join Marks due to the exciting growth trajectory and the opportunity to work with an expert client who oversees a portfolio of brands with abundant opportunities for best-in-class brand design and creativity in a challenging sector. Outside of work, Giles is a man of diverse interests - from exploring new places, discovering galleries and new exhibitions, to engaging in fitness activities, supporting his partner in running a vibrant Pilates studio and community. Recently, he has been raising money for his local rowing club, and working towards obtaining his powerboat license to serve as a safety marshal for regattas on the Thames. His inquisitive nature and love for adventure perfectly complement his dynamic professional energy. Join us in extending a welcome to Giles that’s as warm as the one he’s extended to us. 🎉Welcome, Giles Darwin! 🎉

🎉 We’re excited to welcome Victoria Bell as our new Vice President of Global Operations. With a distinguished career that began with entrepreneurial ventures, Vic brings a wealth of expertise in business operations, most recently in digital marketing. We're thrilled to have her on board! 🚀 Vic joins us from Publicis Group, where she was responsible for driving operational excellence. She began her career in Publicis with Media Operations at Digitas, before moving to Publicis Media’s central operations function. From there, she took on a leadership role in driving operations for PM Dragonfly, a Google tech startup. Throughout her career, Vic has leveraged her deep expertise in data and analytics to drive growth and optimize performance. A proven leader, she’s the perfect fit to help us deliver exceptional value to our clients. But there’s so much more to Vic than spreadsheets and numbers… Her passion for cooking truly shines, whether she’s catering for high-profile events or gathering family and friends around the table. She finds joy in both the excitement of cooking for large-scale occasions and the simple pleasure of sharing a meal with loved ones in her beloved home county of Northumberland. Vic treasures the close-knit community and stunning natural beauty of the area, where she lives with her family. A dedicated Mum and passionate fan of her local rugby team, her weekends are filled with driving her Dad to away games or cheering on her son, his team, and their opponents from the touchline—always bringing her spirited and supportive energy wherever she goes. Why Marks? For Vic, it’s the opportunity to take a successful and growing company on to new highs. She resonated with our core values and relishes the challenge and opportunities presented by such holistic operational transformations. She’s in her happy place when devising and optimizing systems, processes and tools, and geeks out on data and automation; all critical facets of her role here at Marks. Vic is driven by an ethos of leading from the back –of encouragement, support and guidance that allows her team to shine. These values align with our company culture, which made Marks the ideal environment for her to thrive. We’re delighted about the incredible expertise, energy and humour she brings to our team, and we look forward to achieving great things together. Welcome, Victoria Bell! #MakeMarks #NewLeadership #OperationalExcellence #DeliveringValue

🎉 The warmest of welcomes to the remarkable Sarah Bustin , our newest addition as Creative Director, based in London. Sarah joins Marks from Landor where her creative leadership delivered global redesigns for iconic brands such as Starbucks, Kellogg’s, and Danone. Formerly, Sarah freelanced at Bulletproof and Butterfly Cannon, after a distinguished, decade long-tenure at Design Bridge and Partners where she crafted award-winning work for Diageo, Unilever, PepsiCo, Akzo Nobel and Friesland Campina from their studios in both London and Singapore. Sarah’s path to Marks has been driven by her passion for the power of storytelling and its ability to create strong emotional connections. A true empath, her philosophy is rooted in the balance between the emotion, maths and magic of design: “The combination of EQ, data, insights and wild creativity builds brands that are both unique and relevant to people's lives. It delivers commercial impact and success through creative solutions that resonate deeply with audiences across the globe”, she says. Sarah is thrilled about the opportunity to work with our dynamic, and super-smart teams who she believes are perfectly positioned to provide agile, innovative and impactful solutions for our clients. She is particularly excited about leading the creative vision for her new clients and unlocking the potential of their brands while contributing to our growth as a strategic agency and competing with the world’s biggest names in brand creative. On a personal note, Sarah believes in the power of exercise to transform our personal and professional lives and is obsessed with Reformer Pilates. She indulges both the practical and creative sides of her personality through DIY and cooking, particularly inspired by Ottolenghi as both a chef and a brand. She also has a not-so-secret obsession with typography, letterpress and maps. Her rich creative life outside of work adds a unique flavor to her professional approach and creativity. Please join us in extending the warmest of welcomes to Sarah. We are excited and proud to have her on board. 🌟 #Welcome #MakeMarks #BrandDesign #BrandCreative #DesignExcellence #CommercialImpact

More tremendous news! 🎉 We are so excited to welcome Katya Cunningham, our new Strategy Director, to our team at Marks. Based in London, Katya joins us from TBWA and brings a wealth of experience from an impressive cohort of agencies: formerly freelancing at the likes of Siegle+Gale, FutureBrand, Landor and JDO, Katya has contributed towards an broad range of initiatives from brand strategy and positioning to onmi-channel marketing campaigns and consumer research. Before going freelance, Katya worked client-side, on the in-house brand and communications teams at Apple Europe, Kellogg's, Mars-Wrigley and Diageo, building on her academic background in Business from the European Business School, now Regents University, where she continues to share her passion for what makes people tick as a guest lecturer in applied psychology. Katya’s unique blend of expertise and passion will undoubtedly be a significant asset to every project. But, why Marks, you ask? Katya expressed her appreciation for our innovative and culturally focused approach, which aligns perfectly with her interests as a qualified psychologist and ethnographic researcher. Her choice was influenced by our dynamic and collaborative culture, the brilliant minds she gets to work with, and the creative freedom that Marks embraces. She’s especially enthusiastic about our cultural tools, that interrogate how culture impacts brands. On a more personal note, Katya’s rich multicultural background, starting with her journey from Russia to the UK as a teenager, have fostered her broad, inclusive perspective. Outside of work, she’s a reader and film enthusiast who loves to explore new narratives and storytelling techniques, a tennis player and dedicated mum. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Katya. Her journey with us is just beginning, and we are excited for the contributions she will make to our team and success of our clients. Welcome aboard, Katya!🌟 #Welcome #MakeMarks #BrandDesign #Strategy #CulturalInsights #InnovativeThinking #DesignExcellence

🌟 **Welcome to the Marks Team, Maureen McKenna!** 🌟 We're delighted beyond measure that Maureen McKenna has decided to join our exceptional talent here at Marks. Maureen comes to us from Bulletproof and will head up some of our key clients as Senior Group Account Director, direct from Marks’ NYC base. Maureen was particularly drawn by Marks’ unique culture and growing success. A conversation with a former colleague, John Bruno, also now at Marks, solidified her decision. Their mutual respect for Marks’ commitment to creativity was pivotal in her choice. (Why, thank you, John and Maureen!) Maureen brings a wealth of experience with high-profile accounts including CVS Health, Heineken, Campbell’s, Pernod-Ricard, PepsiCo and Reebok at leading agencies. Her journey began with an internship in Media Buying at McCann Erickson during her days at Fordham University, where she was studying English Literature and on the Women’s D1 Swim Team (IYKYK – wow!), before moving on to the likes of McCann Erickson and Grey to learn and hone her skills in Client Service. Maureen is still an avid reader, enjoys skiing in Vermont with her family and friends, and walking in the woods with her dog. She practices mindfulness and meditation, bringing a focused energy to her work and a calm, nurturing approach to leadership and mentoring. Thank you for choosing Marks, Maureen! We are wholeheartedly excited to have you on-board and look forward to the innovative ideas and positivity you will bring. Here’s to new beginnings and many successful ventures together. #Welcome #NewBeginnings #MakeMarks #BrandDesign #BrandCreative #ClientServices #DesignExcellence