This week's London appointments

Colleen Merwick, AgencyTK

Marketing agency AgencyTK has appointed Colleen Merwick as its new global strategy director.

Colleen will lead the firm’s strategy department across its three offices in London, Leeds and LA. She has more than a decade of industry experience and specialises in brand strategy.

Nik Entwistle, founder of AgencyTK, said: “We were looking for some special credentials when selecting our new strategy director.

“Colleen brings highly valuable and senior experience in both account planning and brand strategy, combined with knowledge of cultures, consumers and brands in the US, Australia and the UK.”

Nik continued: “We are thrilled to have Colleen on board, and her experience and expertise fit perfectly with the global presence and mix of clients at AgencyTK.

“She is an extremely welcome addition to the team and her insight will continue to underpin all of the creative we deliver as we keep pushing and challenging our clients.”

Before joining AgencyTK, Colleen worked for brand agency 1HQ.

She said: “I am delighted to bring a varied background and experience across the board to AgencyTK, and to make an immediate impact on clients, both new and existing

“I am excited to be back in London and working with such an innovative and forward-thinking agency. I can’t wait to broaden my experience further outside of FMCG and ensure that the beautiful work the agency is producing is anchored in strategic rationale.”

Steve Smith, JLL

Property services firm JLL has appointed Steve Smith as its head of cost management and capital allowances in London.

Prior to his appointment, Steve led the company’s capital allowances advisory business for three years.

The new role will see him lead a specialist team with over 300 years’ combined experience that enables investor and corporate clients to manage financial risk, control costs and support business planning and growth.

Steve commented: “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the talented cost management and capital allowances team here at JLL, helping them to develop their roles and enhance the team capability.

“I’m also excited about furthering the great work undertaken in building the team as we continue to grow our cost management and capital allowances offering within the project and development services (PDS) business.”

JLL’s lead director for project and development services in the UK, Helen Gough, said: “Steve is a strong and highly respected leader who has a great track record in growing a team and delivering market-leading advice to our clients.

“His collaborative style across the team and wider JLL business will contribute to the continued growth in our cost management and PDS business in London as well as other UK regional teams.”

Alex Blaikley, Epiphany

Epiphany, the search agency of media firm Jaywing, has appointed Alex Blaikley in the role of client leadership director.

Alex will be responsible for the company’s client leadership team in the UK. He was previously group head of clients at digital marketing agency iProspect and, before that, held senior positions at Google, Sky Media and Telegraph Media Group.

Epiphany MD Tom Salmon said: “Alex’s appointment is reflective of the calibre of talent we have joining the agency.

“His role leading, supporting and mentoring our client partners and our restructured delivery teams requires a keen understanding of omnichannel commercial strategy and we’re delighted to welcome him into the Epiphany family.”

Alex commented: “I’m very excited to work with such a reputable and talented team, and to build upon the strong relationships the agency already has with its clients to continue to enable them to get the most from their digital marketing strategies.”

Epiphany employs 170 marketers across offices in London and Leeds.

Joel Farrow, HiBob

HR platform HiBob has hired Joel Farrow to lead its 45-strong UK and Europe team.

He joined the company following five years at business software firm SAP.

Joel said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled. HiBob is brilliantly solving a multitude of problems that I’ve encountered during my career in HR and enterprise sales.

“It is a young company, growing in high pace, one with fresh ideas and a robust product and technology infrastructure.”

He added: “Finally the day-to-day tasks of HR are brought together with active employee engagement – not lip-service sales speak. It’s complete, adjustable, and a joy to use.”

HiBob’s co-founder and chief exec, Ronni Zehavi, commented: “It’s an extraordinary affirmation that someone with Joel’s extensive technology and HR experience has decided to lead HiBob in the UK and Europe.

“He is passionate about HiBob’s mission create a vibrant new role for HR in a world where it is essential to create environments which are ‘recipes for retention’ – those that motivate, inspire, connect and reward.”

Oliver Yonchev, Social Chain Group

Social Chain Group has appointed Oliver Yonchev as managing director for its North American operation.

Across the Atlantic, the company’s revenues grew more than 900% year on year in its last financial results. The growth was attributed to European brands including Superdry, Pretty Little Thing and Simply Be partnering with Social Chain on their US social strategies.

As MD, Oliver will spearhead the firm’s plan to open three new offices in LA, San Francisco and Chicago, in addition to leading its American HQ in New York.

Social Chain Group comprises two businesses – social-first marketing agency Social Chain and social media publishing house Media Chain.

Oliver was previously global business director of Social Chain.

He said: “I have had the pleasure of working at The Social Chain Group in the UK and being part of a team that has seen tremendous growth, the execution of award-winning campaigns and industry-firsts.

“I am now thrilled to further my responsibility within the company and be an instrumental force for the company’s US expansion.”

Social Chain Group’s founder and CEO, Steve Bartlett, commented: “I’ve spent the last five years working in this industry and I can confidently say that Oliver is one of the most naturally talented professional’s I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside.

“His historical contribution to Social Chain globally has helped to define the business in many ways.”

He continued: “We have tremendous ambitions for Social Chain USA - this is no small challenge, but fortunately Oliver’s capabilities exceed the scope of the challenge and I’m delighted to introduce him to our teams and clients as the new managing director of Social Chain USA.”

Mike Smith, Bain & Company

Global management consultancy Bain & Company has appointed Mike Smith as a partner in its private equity practice covering the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Mike, who will work from the company’s London office, has over 20 years’ experience in management consulting, leading businesses through the various stages of the investment lifecycle.

At Bain & Company, he will focus on broadening the firm’s expertise within the financial services ecosystem, particularly on due diligence and post-acquisitions.

The head of Bain & Company’s EMEA private equity practice, Christophe De Vusser, said: “Mike is an integral part of the firm’s growing Private Equity team.

“His extensive experience in investment and value creation strategy along with his focus on results will be an asset to our clients across the region.”

He added: “[Mike] will also play a key role in helping us build our financial services team in private equity, a growing sector of interest for many private equity investors.”

Mike commented: “Bain & Company is widely recognized as the leading advisory firm to the private equity sector.

“I’m excited to join such a well-known, well-regarded team and look forward to helping our clients be successful across a wider range of transaction and strategic themes.”