Member Article

OLIVER Group spearheads growth with senior hires

OLIVER Group is stepping up its senior team talent with the appointments of Proximity’s Claire Aldous, TeamSpirit Share’s James Sanderson, and TMW’s Ed Howarth. The hires follow a spate of new business wins, and come as the agency leans into growth.

OLIVER has poached Proximity’s Aldous as its first head of data, brought in TeamSpirit Share’s managing director James Sanderson as MD, Operations and appointed TMW business director Ed Howarth as managing partner.

Aldous was deputy head of data at Proximity and spearheaded the agency’s data and innovation offering for almost a decade. She brings extensive experience in digital, direct and in particular CRM to OLIVER, with a remit to lead and grow the Group data planning and analytics offering, providing clear data driven customer journeys, strategies and analytics for clients.

Sanderson takes on overall operational responsibility for OLIVER in the UK, with a focus on driving performance and efficiency for both the agency and clients. He adds heavyweight experience in innovation and business transformation from a wide range of sectors, notably automotive, financial services, FMCG and retail.

Sanderson was previously managing director of Chime’s social and data offer TeamSpirit. He has cross-industry experience, having held a series of leadership roles in which he has established or helped to rebuild some of the industry’s leading digital agency names including DNA Consulting, now Razorfish UK, Glue London, subsequently bought by Aegis Media and Digitas UK.

Both Aldous and Sanderson will report in to Sharon Whale, chief executive officer, OLIVER Group UK.

Meanwhile, Howarth joins OLIVER UK as managing partner heading up a portfolio that includes The AA and BMW. Howarth has strong pan-European experience, having led and managed digital accounts for clients including luxury automotive brand Infiniti at TMW. Howarth will report to OLIVER UK director Leo Harrison.

Whale said: “OLIVER is a challenger to agency status quo and we know from experience that to power disruption, you need disruptors and innovators. Claire, James and Ed have that as part of their DNA, as well as experience in spades. All three have been brought on board to help us manage a spate of integrated and CRM accounts that OLIVER has started to win. As we drive the business forward, our mission is to bring every relevant idea and skill necessary straight into our clients’ worlds, including data.

“Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, where we craft and deliver ideas, is having real cut-through – both with clients and with talent who are looking for new opportunities and ways of working. OLIVER has a 12-year track record of success, and we’re really excited about the impact Claire, James and Ed will have on our clients’ business as well as the agency as a whole.”

Sanderson added: “The role at OLIVER offered something that I’d not seen anywhere else – an opportunity to join an industry-disrupting business with a truly unique model. It’s a chance to drive real innovation in operations, and play a key role in the effectiveness of a business that has over 50 agencies based inside client brands. All coupled with a thriving strategic and creative community at its heart.

“I feel incredibly motivated for this next chapter and look forward to delivering ideas that challenge the norm, change behaviour, while doing so quickly and without fuss.”

The new appointments follow a raft of recent new business wins, including Northern and Atos.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alex Sampson .