Digital and social media veteran Laurie Dillon-Schalk will join DraftFCB Toronto as planning director, digital in August.
Michael Szego, the agency’s vice-president head of planning, said the hiring is in step with the agency’s constant search for “strong strategic thinkers” to build its bench strength.
“We met Laurie a few months back and looked to put something together that she could see great growth potential for herself, but also how we could really turbocharge our ideation, our strategic process and our ability to be thought leaders in the space.”
Dillon-Schalk was formerly director of digital strategy and innovation at JWT Canada. Before that she’d worked with IBM, WestJet and Great Gulf homes in various digital marketing roles.
The digital planning director is a newly-created position at DraftFCB that Szego said reflects clients’ growing need for digital capabilities.
“The needs of our clients are just getting more and more complex. Clients are interested in shifting their expectations not only for good project management, but also how do you bring extra value, extra insight into their businesses so that great solutions can emerge,” said Szego. “Many folks think of digital as simply an advertising channel and Laurie brings a real clarity as to how transformational digital is to how we go to market.”
Dillon-Schalk will be leading several digital, social and mobile projects for clients including TD Bank, Ontario Tourism and Kraft.
Her appointment brings DraftFCB Toronto’s planning department count to six employees. The agency has approximately 170 staffers in total.
