Media agencies can also be creative – the subject has been a point of various discussions in advertising business. Maxus Global, that is known to have called itself the creative media agency, has taken this a step forward, and has appointed Jen Smith, currently Head of Strategy and Planning for Maxus UK, as its first ever Global Creative Director. Ms Smith will be responsible for overseeing all of Maxus Global’s creative output.
Ms Smith joined Maxus UK in 2013 as Head of Planning, before expanding her role to include strategy where she restructured the team to enable Maxus UK to better provide insight-led, ideas-focussed and technology-rich solutions across the agency. She was also instrumental in creating Change Planning, Maxus’ planning process.
In 2016, Ms Smith developed a creativity training scheme, taking 10 percent of the agency on a journey of facilitation techniques and creative problem solving. Each of these creative champions are driving learnings out across the entire agency.
In her new role, she will focus on the delivery of creative work for Maxus clients both on a UK and global level, and she will also expand the UK creativity leadership programme for all Maxus employees worldwide.
“Jen has been an absolutely integral part of Maxus UK; she’s a brilliant communicator and left field thinker, and has consistently come up with ideas that move the needle for our clients and make us a more efficient, creative business. Jen was a very key participant in Walk The Talk, the Maxus gender equality initiative that helps women identify what their goals are and find the confidence to step up and make bold moves. Jen took these learnings on board and came to me with a proposal for this new role that both benefits Maxus and offers her the ideal step up; she is truly walking the talk,” said Lindsay Pattison, Maxus Worldwide CEO.
“Without any shadow of a doubt we are in the midst of a revolution in media; there’s a tremendous opportunity to create new types of work that sizzle with excitement. But to properly deliver it takes more than lip-service or hybrid strategy/ideas roles – it requires dedicated talent with the space to focus, explore and create. As one of the most intuitively creative media thinkers in the business today I can think of no-one better that Jen to push us to new and exciting places,” added Nick Vale, Worldwide Head of Planning, Maxus.
Ms Smith will continue to be based in London and will report into Nick Vale Worldwide Head of Planning and Nick Baughan, CEO Maxus UK. She will split her time between Maxus UK and Maxus Global.
“Maxus is a super-fast and agile global agency and there’s fantastic opportunity to drive creativity across our network. Clients are calling out for work that is brave, problem-solving and with one foot firmly planted in the future. I’m looking forward to taking the initiatives that have delivered in the UK out across the world, creating creativity leadership programmes, along with developing stronger and senior creative opportunities for key clients across the globe,” commented Ms Smith.
