Change at the Top for Stagwell's Allison

San Francisco-based Stagwell subsidiary Allison has announced that Global CEO Scott Allison will step down from the role to focus on company expansion through acquisitions. Co-founder and Global COO Jonathan Heit steps up to replace him, as part of a wider senior shuffle.

Although known as a PR and marcoms agency, Allison has in the last two and a half years launched a service called Connected Thought Leadership (CTL), which uses research, 'narrative discovery' and messaging sessions, and communications to help CEOs and other leaders 'stand out in competitive environments'; unveiled a methodology called Brandgeist IQ (BGIQ), to measure the real-time cultural relevance of brands; created a centralized research and analysis unit called the Performance+Intelligence Group; and launched a multicultural marketing offering called M365, comprising a team with expertise in 'ensuring diverse consumer groups are seen, heard and valued every day of the year'.

Allison founded firm 22 years ago and will retain his role as Global Chairman role, including the handling of a number of new business prospects, M&A, training inputs and client-facing responsibilities. Co-founder Andy Hardie-Brown also moves away from day-to-day operations, becoming Vice Chairman, with a remit to oversee strategic growth initiatives in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere. A new global board will also include Global CFO Julia Farrell, who also now takes on the COO role; Chief Growth Officer Matthew Della Croce; Global CEO Marketing Innovation Cathy Planchard; North American CEO Anne Colaiacovo; North American COO Tom Smith; Lisa Rosenberg, President of the Global Consumer Group; and General Counsel Brian Feldman.

Heit (pictured) has worked for the company in Tokyo and New York, recently focusing on honing policies, technology and processes to drive both efficiencies and company growth in the COO role. Allison comments: 'Jonathan Heit has been with the agency since inception. He has a keen understanding of our culture and is well-poised to continue the growth trajectory and service-oriented approach for clients in collaboration with a talented group of colleagues'.

Heit himself told industry publication PR Week the firm - which rebranded from Allison+Partners in September - aims to reach $200m in revenue globally in the next three to five years, targeting organic growth as well as acquisitions. This would roughly double the current size of the agency.

The firm's web site is at www.allisonworldwide.com .