Publicis Canada has brought some global insight to its Toronto office with the hiring of Mac MacDonald as vice-president, brand director for its Rogers Wireless business. The hiring not only changes the Rogers’ account management team, it signals growth at other agency divisions.
MacDonald, a 15-year industry veteran, has managed accounts for Microsoft, Reuters and Hewlett Packard at agencies in Asia, Australia and the U.K. He was most recently vice-president and managing director at Grey Vancouver, which he left in May. Found through a headhunting agency, MacDonald said he is eager to see how the relationship will evolve over the next year.
“Rogers is going through a transitional phase,” said MacDonald. “One of the objectives in the business is to get a better hold of the customer view. [Rogers] knows to look far more at how they manage a wholistic relationship with the consumer.”
“[MacDonald is] a bright guy with a lot of experience,” said Publicis president Andrew Bruce. “He’s worked in some the of emerging markets on telecommunications. He understands 3G [technology] and how markets evolve. He’s adding real value to the relationship with Rogers.”
MacDonald takes over for Bryan Kane, who recently moved to the agency’s Modem digital division as vice-president, managing partner—a title he shares with Dave Lafond.
“I wanted Bryan over on the digital side with Dave because Modem is exploding,” Bruce said, “[Modem]’s grown faster than we ever forecasted. We’re at 80 people now and they’re doing big jobs… For example, [electronics manufacturer] LG lives inside Modem. It’s nowhere else in the agency.”
Modem also handles online projects for Nestlé and Purina.
