Gavin Bayley
Y&R has hired Gavin Bayley in the newly created role of senior vice-president, global client leader for Bank of Montreal, North America. BMO selected Y&R as its lead advertising agency last November, after 12 years with Cossette.
Bayley, who has 18 years experience on the account management side, joins Y&R from Leo Burnett, where he was account management group head for eight years.
“Finding the right person for this role has been a top priority, as it takes a unique talent to passionately and successfully navigate the complex financial services marketing landscape,” said Y&R North America president and CEO Matt Anthony in a release. “Gavin will be a real asset to the Y&R team not just in Toronto, but across North America.”
Based in Toronto, Bayley will report to Anthony and Y&R Canada president Chris Jordan. He will oversee the BMO business across Canada and the U.S., working closely with the account teams in Toronto and at Y&R Midwest in Chicago.
Bayley told Marketing that leading an account from a North American perspective, while having access to global resources in the WPP network, was a “fantastic opportunity.”
“There was a real connection with the team here, too,” he added. “[The agency leaders] are all incredibly smart and down to earth. We made a great connection and I really appreciated what their ambitions are for the agency and where they want to go. It was just something I wanted to be a part of.”
