Marcy Q. Samet Named Global Chief Growth and Development Officer, McCann Worldgroup

McCann Worldgroup today announced two global leadership appointments to further the network’s key growth priorities. Marcy Q. Samet was elevated to Chief Growth and Development Officer of McCann Worldgroup, and Maggie O. Connors has joined MRM to serve as Global Chief Growth Officer.

Before serving as Global CMO for MRM, Samet was EVP/Managing Director of MRM -- McCann Woldgroup’s digital, data technology and relationship marketing agency brand -- from 2008 to 2014. In that role, Samet and the team, led the agency through a period of explosive growth, global expansion and industry recognition. In addition to building the agency’s Global Healthcare Practice, Samet added numerous Fortune 500 clients to MRM’s roster including Sanofi and BASF.

“Marcy played an essential role in pioneering MRM’s groundbreaking work in digital transformation, data and analytics, technology and innovation on behalf of our clients,” said Bill Kolb, Chairman and CEO, McCann Worldgroup. Kolb noted that, during Samet’s tenure, MRM has been recognized as a Leader in Gartner Inc.'s Magic Quadrant for Global Marketing Agencies for five consecutive years, including in 2021.

Samet’s new responsibilities will focus on leading new integrated and open architecture business development growth initiatives for both McCann Worldgroup and in partnership with IPG. 

Samet is known as a passionate leader with a proven track record for growing agencies and the brands with whom they partner. She is an expert at building effective teams that transform businesses quickly. Her category expertise includes healthcare, food, education, travel and entertainment, technology, financial services, real estate and retail. 

Suzanne Powers, Global President and CMO, McCann Worldgroup, said, “Marcy is so effective and creative as a business development leader because she understands the complexity of brand challenges in today’s ever-evolving business environment. From that deep understanding, her super-power is calibrating the most impactful team, approaches and intel to crack any challenge across the marketing universe.”

Previous to her career at MRM, Samet spent eight years as Chief Client Officer for Gillespie, a regional brand agency that was acquired by IPG in 2008. Prior to that, Samet spent 6 years as a VP at Ogilvy.

“I’m thrilled to be able to take on the role of chief growth and development officer for the whole McCann Worldgroup network,” said Samet. “I’m going to take everything I have learned helping MRM grow and transform itself and, with the help of the most talented, innovative and creative leadership team in the business, drive McCann Worldgroup forward in its trajectory as the most creatively-effective global marketing solutions network.”

Maggie O. Connors joins MRM as Global Chief Growth Officer after serving as EVP, Head of New Business at Deutsch New York for the last five years. In that role, Connors led Deutsch NY’s consistent growth, winning pitches including Reebok, DraftKings, Newman’s Own, ClearChoice, Hain Celestial, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Prior to Deutsch NY, Connors was the Business Development lead at J. Walter Thompson NY and also held highly successful senior growth roles at Arnold, in Boston and NY. 

“I couldn’t be happier for Marcy in her new role and am grateful for the infrastructure we created as we continue to grow and broaden MRM’s digital transformation, innovation and eCommerce offerings,”  said Kate MacNevin, Global Chairwoman & CEO, MRM. “We’re also thrilled to welcome Maggie who possesses both a proven new business track record and deep appreciation for how creativity can influence and drive meaningful growth. Maggie has positively impacted how agencies pursue their marketing, offerings, pitching and growth and we are thrilled to see her at the helm within MRM.”

“MRM is at the forefront of innovative solutions for today’s complex businesses. I am ready to take my foundation of selling iconic creative and multifaceted campaigns to a team that is truly pushing the boundaries. Kate has a vision and I am honored to be a part of bringing that to life,” said Connors.

Maggie’s track record of leading successful agency growth is fueled by her focus on building out specific offerings, products and new ways of working that can add real value to client’s business. In addition to selling Deutsch NY’s integrated offerings, she also lead pitching their proprietary AI product and dynamic content machine, The Generator.