WPP : Geometry Global promotes Sarah Todd to global role

AND APPOINTS MICHELLE WHELAN AS UK CEO
LONDON -
Geometry Global announces two major appointments.

Sarah Todd, currently CEO Geometry Global UK, steps up to assume global responsibilities as Global Client Leader and Head of Shopper Marketing EMEA. As Global Client Leader, she will drive strategic brand development and delivery for global clients across the network of 56 markets. As Head of Shopper Marketing EMEA, Sarah will establish and embed Geometry shopper marketing expertise across the region. Sarah remains London based.

Michelle Whelan, former Managing Director and Founder of M&C Saatchi Shop, joins Geometry as UK CEO, bringing a wealth of shopper expertise with leading global and local brands. Michelle joins the 300 strong brand activation agency on 8 May.

Comments Global CEO Steve Harding, 'We are experiencing a growing client demand for shopper marketing expertise as a result of on-going technology transformation and changing customer behaviour. Moreover, many brands want to work with us on a global scale.

'Sarah's exceptional ability of building powerful, trusted client partnerships, her world class innovative shopper marketing expertise, and success in growing our UK operation, place her perfectly to help brands transform and succeed locally and globally.

'I am equally excited to welcome Michelle to the Geometry family. Michelle brings a remarkable record of effective shopper marketing and a reputation of inspiring colleagues and clients in this critical market. She promises to delight and deliver powerful campaigns grounded in deep understanding of human behaviour and lead our UK agency to continued success.'
Sarah Todd:
A leading marketing practitioner for 20 years, Sarah has partnered with world-class companies, including GSK, P&G, Danone, Philips, Heineken, Toyota, Microsoft and HP.

In the past four years Sarah has built a ground-breaking UK operation, which has become a WPP shopper marketing centre of excellence. With innovation at its heart and a full suite offering at the intersection of tech, creativity and life experience - capabilities have grown to include shopper and journey insights, retail, digital, experiential, packaging and environmental design.

Under her watch, UK business has grown organically from global power brands GSK, Emirates, Mondelez and Coca-Cola with a recent surge of new business from Kimberly- Clark and Unilever, among others.

Sarah Todd says: 'Over the last few years the fantastic UK team has been incredibly focused on extending the depth and breadth of our shopper, retail and experiential capability. We have established a genuine centre of excellence through consistent focus on clients, innovation, intelligence, speed and creativity.'

'I couldn't be more excited about my new role. We have world class clients, a powerful set of capabilities and tools, as well as brilliant talent across the network. I intend to help harness this talent and drive even greater results for our clients across markets. I'm looking forward to working with Steve and the teams across the network to help realise our global growth and innovation ambitions'.

Michelle Whelan:
Formerly Managing Director of M&C Saatchi Shop, Michelle brings over 20 years' experience of transformative effectiveness working with some of the world's most powerful brands including Coca-Cola, Mondelez, PlayStation, Shell and Philips.

She has built client business with revolutionary marketing and founded successful shopper marketing agencies. In 2015 Michelle launched M&S Saatchi Shop and landed business from Unilever, Mondelez, Pernod Ricard and Dixons Carphone by leveraging technology, mobile and data to change how the world shops.

As Joint Managing Partner of Arc Worldwide, Michelle reinvented the agency offering across digital, sponsorship and B2B whilst significantly growing shopper marketing revenue, helping win Mondelez and Coca-Cola. The agency won recognition as IPM Agency of the Year and MAA Agency of the Year in 2015.

Says Michelle Whelan, ' I am hugely looking forward to working with the Geometry team. They are a very talented bunch of people delivering outstanding work for their clients. We share the same vision for the future - finding innovative ways to deliver ever more relevant communications that engage and inspire today's changing consumers'.

About Geometry Global UK
Geometry Global UK clients include GSK, Coca-Cola, Emirates, HSBC, Unilever, Royal British Legion, Mayor's Fund for London.

Geometry Global, the world's largest and most international brand activation agency, drives conversion, action and purchase through award-winning programmes that change behaviour and inspire people to buy well. With teams in 56 markets, Geometry Global has expertise in shopper, digital, experiential, relationship, promotional and trade marketing. Geometry Global is a WPP company. (NASDAQ: WPPGY). www.geometry.com