Rob Wilk steps down as Microsoft’s global head of advertising

“I have made the decision to leave Microsoft to take the next step in my career,” Wilk wrote on LinkedIn. “I have absolutely LOVED the past 8 years helping to build the mighty Microsoft Advertising team from what was primarily a paid search offering to a full funnel, $10 billion+ ad business.

Kya Sainsbury-Carter will replace Wilk as the company’s advertising head.

Accenture Song names new leading pair to replace Saatchi-bound Denton-Clark

Global media firm Accenture has today named Zoe Eagle and Will Hodge as the new co-chiefs of Accenture Song, replacing the Saatchi & Saatchi-bound James Denton-Clark.

Eagle and Hodge will jointly lead the London-based team, which is comprised of former Karmarama and Creative Drive staff alongside digital marketing specialists from the wider Accenture Song group.

“Very few business problems can be solved alone today, so it’s exciting to get going and unleash the potential of all the brilliant people we have at Accenture Song on the biggest and most daunting challenges facing our clients. It feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface of what we’re going to achieve together,” Eagle said.

Kantar bolsters senior consulting team to aid brands amid cost of living crisis

Marketing data and analytics company Kantar has appointed Simon Bailey as its senior partner in a bid to help clients tackle brand challenges and grow their businesses.

Bailey will manage Kantar’s relationships with major firms to help them navigate market fluctuation amid the current period of high inflation and changing customer behaviour. He will advise on areas of commercial and creative strategy, including forecasting product and service demand, product positioning, innovation and new product development.

“Simon brings a wealth of experience in partnering with clients to define and execute a vision for brands to deliver growth, and we’re pleased to have him onboard,” Kantar Consulting, UK and Ireland managing partner, Natalie Vander Vorst, said. “It’s a tough time for many consumer businesses as high inflation puts pressure on costs and recasts consumer behaviour.

ITV names new director of strategic partnerships

ITV has today appointed Alex Pumfrey as its new director of strategic partnerships, she will join in June after leaving her role as director of strategy and policy at Everyone TV.

Reporting into group strategic partnerships and distribution director, Martin Goswami, Pumfrey has been tasked with shaping and delivering the broadcaster’s partnership strategy.

Pumfrey will also be responsible for developing ITV’s relationships with other UK-based media holders and with international tech firms in order to strengthen growth in what is a rapidly changing landscape.

“I am thrilled to be joining ITV at such a key moment in the delivery of its 2026 vision to become a leader in UK streaming and an expanding global force in content. I’m looking forward to working with our strategic partners to create shared value for the long term, and supporting the wide industry ecosystem in which we all operate,” Pumfrey said.

AMV BBDO names new chief strategy officer

London agency AMV BBDO has today (1 March) appointed Martin Weigel as its new chief strategy officer, who will begin in his new role in April.

A seasoned industry veteran, Weigel has amassed over 30 years’ experience across a wide range of high-profile agencies such as Leo Burnett and Wieden + Kennedy, for whom he most recently worked before joining AMV BBDO.

In his new role, Weigel will step in to the senior leadership team, led by CEO Sam Hawkey alongside Nadja Lossgott, Nicholas Hulley and Carmen Vasile.

“Martin is one of the most brilliant thinkers in our industry. He is not short of an opinion on how to move us and our clients forward and that’s why he has continually been at the forefront of the best work and the most pressing topics of our industry,” Hawkey said.