Maxus strengthens Global Board with three new additions

Maxus has today announced the strengthening of its global senior management team with three new appointments to its global executive board; Dan Benedict, Rudi Symons and Pam Sullivan are all joining the ExCo. Benedict and Symons have also both been promoted to new roles. Benedict becomes worldwide chief client officer, while Symons has been named worldwide chief talent officer. Sullivan, will continue in her role as managing director of Maxus Los Angeles.

Benedict joined Maxus as managing partner in 2014 from MEC where he was a global client lead. In his new role, Benedict will continue to help develop both the ever-expanding Maxus global Huawei relationship and GroupM’s global L’Oréal account across 19 markets, as well as spearheading the Maxus Client Leadership practice.

Rudi Symons, newly appointed worldwide chief talent officer, joined Maxus in September 2015 as EMEA head of talent and culture. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing the global talent and culture strategy across 55 markets. Since joining, Symons has launched a number of HR initiatives at Maxus including: Maxus Global Exchange, an international exchange programme that this year sees 76 Maxus people experiencing work and life in another Maxus office, in one of 45 cities around the world; and Maxus Walk The Talk, an intensive coaching experience designed to improve gender balance at the most senior level.   

To date, Walk the Talk has been attended by over 200 senior women. The course not only explores the barriers that women face in the media/advertising industry,but it also gives participants the chance to focus on their own ambitions and to take steps towards their ‘bigger game’. Since attending the course, 17 senior Maxus women have been promoted, including Rudi.

Pam Sullivan joined Maxus in 2011 as managing director for Maxus Los Angeles, leading the launch of the new office. She also heads Maxus’s largest client in North American, leading the NBCU film and television business, for which she oversees and leads strategic planning, implementation and stewardship for all products. In her five years at Maxus, Sullivan has increased the Los Angeles office’s billings fourfold.

Lindsay Pattison, worldwide CEO said of the appointments: “People are any agency’s biggest asset and our team at Maxus is what sets us apart. Our talent delivers highly creative, award winning campaigns that grow our clients’ businesses. Adding Pam and Dan, our most senior client leaders to the ExCo is critical to how we succeed. And Rudi is ensuring that we get that great work by having super motivated people who feel inspired and empowered at Maxus. Each of these three brilliant individuals are also wonderful team players and I am so happy they are stepping up to be on our top team.  

Pattison adds: “Dan’s experience working with some of our biggest clients has been hugely influential across all markets, regions and globally. He offers exceptionally calm and experienced client leadership and he’s always one to roll up his sleeves and make things happen.

Pattison continues: “LA is one of the most culturally important cities in the world, especially for the creative industries. Where it innovates, the rest of the world follows. And Pam has been leading and growing our West Coast offer and delivering stellar work for NBCU.”

Dan Benedict, worldwide chief client officer at Maxus, said: “With Maxus’ unique client-centric culture my new role is firmly about supporting clients through this time of peak complexity. The key is ensuring local knowledge delivers global impact whilst making sure that Maxus’ excellent consistency and quality is maintained worldwide.”

Rudi Symons, worldwide chief talent officer, commented: “I love working for Maxus – it truly lives its Leading Change philosophy: for its clients and for its people – it’s a joy to work in such a fresh thinking, collaborative culture with equality at its heart. I’m very proud to now be leading the global talent and culture strategy and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Pam Haupert Sullivan, managing director at Maxus Los Angeles, added: “To be promoted onto the global ExCo is recognition for all the hard work of the entire NBCU Maxus team. I’m looking forward to offering my experiences in Los Angeles to drive Maxus’ global growth in the future.” 

Sullivan will continue to be based in Los Angeles and report into both Steve Williams, Maxus Americas CEO and Lindsay Pattison, Maxus Worldwide CEO. Benedict and Symons will continue to be based in London and report to Pattison.