VML Promotes Chuck Searle To Chief Client Officer

VML, a global marketing agency, today announced it has promoted Chuck Searle to chief client officer. Searle was previously executive director of client services at VML. He succeeds Beth Wade in the role after she was appointed the agency’s first chief marketing officer in 2013. 

As chief client officer, Searle will continue to lead the client services department and major client engagements, including Gatorade, PepsiCo, Southwest Airlines, U.S. Soccer and Wendy’s, among others

"The key to VML’s success has always been great people, intense commitment to client engagement and unmatched continuity of leadership. Chuck embodies those dynamics like no other," said Jon Cook, CEO and president at VML. “I’m so excited about how Chuck and his team are redefining traditional account management in a new ‘engagement’ paradigm. This new position allows that to happen at scale across our company."

Searle started as a media associate and has served in various leadership roles within the client services department since joining the agency in 2000.

“As digital and traditional marketing practices converge, digital is no longer just a channel but a consumer engagement space. Our goal is to continue to understand how this convergence impacts our client partners, and how to adapt the client services team to evolve our perspective on our clients’ businesses,” Searle said. “As a team, with this evolution of client services in mind, we’ll focus on demonstrating marketing excellence in every client engagement with this approach.”

Searle’s focus will be on implementing this philosophy of client engagement across the agency with an emphasis on operational excellence, professional development and core client growth.

Co-managing directors Jennifer McDonald, Joe Grigsby, Renee Holmes and Conan Venus, will continue the day-to-day management and leadership of the department.

Searle reports to Cook. His promotion is effective immediately.