Integrated communications agency McCann has further strengthened its strategy team with the promotion of Kathryn Ellis to Bristol office managing partner.
Kathryn, pictured, has more than 15 years’ experience in leading brand, business and communications strategies, alongside holding the position of associate lecturer in Advertising at Southampton Solent University. 
She is also a leading voice on growing and retaining female talent within the industry.
Her acclaimed research in this area has formed the basis for her many keynote speaker appearances at events staged by the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) and Creative Equals, the not-for-profit consultancy promoting inclusive teams, as well as her published work.
She joined McCann Bristol in 2015 as planning director from Bristol agency Bray Leino, where she had worked for 18 months as a senior planner
While at McCann Bristol her work with clients has included rebranding the Royal Mint, launching Motability’s first direct-to-consumer campaign and taking Pink Lady apples global.
Kathryn’s promotion – alongside that of Gideon Wilkins in McCann’s Birmingham office – strengthens McCann Central’s 30-strong division of strategy, research and planning specialists.
The team brings different agency disciplines together to build campaigns with a shared, consistent approach. Its strategists’ experience, skills and capabilities include brand planning for digital communication and creative development, from analysis of consumer trends, needs and segmentation, focus groups, workshops and co-creation, to campaign creative and proposition evaluations. 
McCann Central CEO Dean Lovett said: “Strategy, planning and research are a fundamental part of everything we do here at McCann and in our pledge to help our clients play a meaningful role in people’s lives.
“Every day, our expert strategists, planners and researchers uncover insights to guide our creativity and – crucially – create positive results for our clients, which is why we are delighted to be further strengthening our strategy team.
“It’s an exciting time for our business and we recognise that a strong strategy team is central to continuing to deliver the world-class work for which we are known and building on our celebrated philosophy of ‘Truth Well Told’.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on the strength of our offering, but thanks to these latest developments, we are now the strongest we’ve ever been.
“We’d like to congratulate Gideon and Kathryn on their promotions. We have no doubt that, along with our brilliant team, they will continue to ensure our creative work is the bravest and best it can be, and more importantly truly effective for our clients.”
McCann is part of McCann Worldgroup – the world’s largest advertising and communications network.
