Starcom head of marketing Thwaite moves to MPG

by Mark Banham, Brand Republic 20-Feb-07, 10:45

LONDON - Emma Thwaite, marketing director at Starcom, has been poached for the role of head of marketing at Media Planning Group.

Thwaite, formerly Combe, replaces Simon Pont the previous MPG marketing director who left the agency at Christmas to take up the role of strategy director at communications planning agency Naked.

Her new role at MPG will involve her taking responsibility for driving all marketing and new business activity across the agency and its associated divisions -- MPG, Media Contacts and MPG International. Thwaite has previously held posts at advertising agencies Leo Burnett, Barrett Cernis and Bozell Worldwide.

Thwaite will report to Mark Craze, managing partner at MPG, who said: "It's great to have Emma on board. We have a wealth of talent, knowledge, insight and experience here at MPG, and I'm sure Emma, with her proven track record in new business and marketing, will make a major contribution to MPG's continued development."

Thwaite added: "MPG is an agency with a lot of ambition. I was particularly attracted to move here by its vision and its team of outstanding people."

She was previously the marketing manager at Starcom Motive and since her promotion in June 2004 has coordinated strategy across Starcom in the UK. She was recently heavily involved in the successful pitches for £15m Premier Foods and the £32m EMI Records media accounts, both of which were awarded to the agency. Yesterday, it was revealed that Starcom had made it to the shortlist for the combined £24m HMV and Waterstone's media pitch.

She previously reported to Starcom's business development director Sarah Heyworth, who took up the position of head of client services at Mediaedge:cia in January this year.

Heyworth was hired to develop existing business and support future growth across the agency. She will reports into Jenner and the other joint managing director, Steve Hatch.