VMLY&R announced today the appointment of Anna Vogt as UK chief strategy officer. Vogt joins the agency at an exciting time, VMLY&R recently retained its place on the coveted CCS roster, was shortlisted twice for the C4 Diversity in Advertising Award and launched Reuters’ first ever brand campaign. Vogt will report into VMLY&R’s UK CEO, Justin Pahl and join the London executive team.
Vogt will be responsible for the strategic output of the London office. She will work closely with Laurent Simon, UK CCO, to deliver groundbreaking and effective creative work for VMLY&R’s client portfolio, including Diageo, Danone, Department for Transport, Ford and Wendy’s.
“I am thrilled to have Anna on board with us. Brilliant strategy is crucial to achieving creative excellence. I can’t wait to create innovative and purposeful work together,” said Laurent Simon, UK Chief Creative Officer, VMLY&R.
She will lead a 60+ strong strategy department and implement VMLY&R’s global Strategic Studios into the UK market. Strategic Studios address the most pressing challenges facing marketers to create category-leading thinking that builds connected brands. They include a Brand Studio, a Culture Studio, an Experience Studio, and a Technology Studio, among others.
“I’m ridiculously excited to start working alongside Justin and Laurent. They have already made such an impact on the agency and the work, and their ambition for this next stage is absolutely contagious. WPP gave me my first job in advertising and introduced me to a career in strategy. I’ve always felt deeply grateful for the opportunities this has afforded me, and I couldn’t be prouder to be returning to the mothership,” said Anna Vogt.
Vogt will also guide the agency’s Connected Growth strategy which aims to accelerate the growth of enterprise value based on building powerful connections between brands, communities and the planet.
“I am delighted to be welcoming such a strategic force to our London team. Anna is a brilliant strategist and an incredible leader with empathy and tenacity. She will help us realise the full potential of VMLY&R in the UK,” said Pahl, UK CEO at VMLY&R.
Vogt’s hire continues VMLY&R’s significant momentum since Pahl and Simon’s joining in 2019, overseeing the agency’s double-digit growth in the last year, including 50% headcount increase. The agency played an integral part in the Walgreens Boots Alliance win for WPP, retained the high-profile Department for Transport account, and was recently selected for the Crown Commercial Service Roster. Globally, VMLY&R was also named Campaign’s creative network of the year in May this year.
Vogt joins from TBWA London, where she has been Chief Strategy Officer for the last four years. During her time at TBWA, the agency won the Health & Wellness Cannes Lions Grand Prix in 2021 for #StealOurStaff, and IPA Gold and Effie Grand Prix in 2018 for Lidl’s sustained effectiveness. Vogt began her career as a WPP Fellow before joining Grey London. She also spent time at BBH, where she was Planning Director on the British Airways, Persil and Clarks accounts. Vogt is an inaugural member of the Creative Strategy Lion Committee and co-developed the research behind its creation.
Transition timings for Vogt are in discussion.