Independent creative agency Dailey has promoted Michelle Wong to president, making Dailey majority female-led in addition to the shop’s majority female-owned status. Wong was previously one of the five Dailey managing partners who led the Los Angeles-based agency’s buyback from IPG in 2017.
In her new role, Wong will join CEO Jean Grabow to take over the day-to-day operations, with most of the agency’s critical functions reporting to them. Wong will oversee the agency’s core service departments, including creative. Brad Johnson, Bridget Johnson, Steve Mitchell and Bill Waldner remain managing partners and on the board in key roles to run and grow the agency.
“Michelle has been instrumental in shepherding the agency through a time of great transition as we define ourselves as an independent agency,” said Grabow, CEO. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Michelle for Dailey’s next chapter.”
Wong has been with Dailey for nearly 11 years. During that time, she oversaw the relationship with Nestlé brands across Nestlé USA, Nestlé HealthCare Nutrition and 4-H. Her previous experience includes M&C Saatchi, DraftFCB and Leo Burnett.
“This is a new chapter for Dailey and I’m so proud to be leading the charge in our transformation,” said Wong. “There’s nothing more exciting than the creative thinking that diverse talent brings, and I can’t wait to see where this new path takes us.”
Wong’s promotion comes on the heels of Marcus Wesson’s March 2019 promotion to chief creative officer. Since Dailey’s return to independence in February 2017, Wong has had a critical role in nurturing diversity within the agency. An internal audit discovered a 25% gender pay gap which the agency has been able to successfully close. All of Dailey’s department heads are people of color and/or LGBTQ+. Women of color employees rose from 16% to 32%, agency-wide.
Wong was recently honored as one of the 2019 ColorComm Circle nominees who are changing the face of the industry.
