After helping the agency put together its successful WestJet pitch as a freelancer, Neale Halliday has been announced as TBWA\Toronto‘s new chief strategy officer.
Halliday, who began his career in the U.K., did spend six years in Canada at BBDO Toronto before moving to the agency’s Detroit office. After leaving BBDO Detroit in 2005, he began freelancing as a strategist.
Joining TBWA (which, like BBDO, is an Omnicom Group agency) in September, Halliday steps into the role previously held by Christine Maw, who joined the shop in 2006 and left late last year to become a freelancer herself.
The strategic group within the agency is small – approximately four staffers – but agency boss Jay Bertram expects it to grow in the coming years.
Halliday said his time has been mostly occupied by client work for Visa, although he will also oversee planning work for WestJet, Yellow Tail wine and contribute to fostering new business relationships.
