Renée Lavecchia has been promoted to executive director of VMLY&R Miami. She will be responsible for driving the growth of the agency through the expansion of its client portfolio in addition to overseeing the Miami operation. In her new role, she will report to Eric Campbell, global president, VMLY&R, and join the North America executive leadership team.
As part of her appointment to executive director, Lavecchia will maintain her current responsibilities overseeing client engagement in Miami for Wendy’s, Dell, Apex Tool Group and more. In addition to her client engagement responsibilities, Lavecchia serves on the WPP Global Inclusion Council representing VMLY&R, which is helping to shape the inclusion practices across the holding company. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she has led the Wendy’s client partnership for the U.S. Hispanic market for the past 11-plus years.
With more than 130 employees from over 20 countries, VMLY&R Miami is a multicultural office, partnering with clients to deliver the connected brand experience across the U.S. market at large and the growing U.S. Hispanic market, extending across Latin America and beyond. Over the past year, VMLY&R Miami has grown its client portfolio with the addition of GSK and the Coca Cola Company’s brands.
The U.S. Hispanic market is the driving force behind the growing multicultural face of America. With a population of 62 million, Hispanics make up almost 19% of the U.S. population, contributing to more than half of the total population growth over the past 10 years and skyrocketing in buying power. Hispanic buying power is projected to be $2.6 trillion in just about three years, representing a nearly 150% increase in the last decade. (Source: Hispanic Market Guide 2022, Hispanic Marketing Council)
“VMLY&R Miami feels like my second home, as I’ve been with the agency since its inception,” said Lavecchia. “I am looking forward to continuing being a trusted partner for our clients in this growing market.”
Lavecchia is a citizen of the world. She was born and raised in Panama, earned her Associate of Arts degree at the American College of Switzerland, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in international marketing at American University in Washington, D.C., and an MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
MSQ Acquires Creative Agency SPCSHP
Next generation independent creative, technology and media company MSQ has acquired New York-based creative agency SPCSHP. The acquisition more than doubles London-based MSQ’s presence in the U.S., increasing annual revenues in North America to $100MM and accelerating its ability to deliver agile, multi-disciplinary solutions that fuses together data, tech and creativity to build effective brand momentum for its clients. Terms of the SPCSHP deal were not disclosed.
MSQ’s ambitious international investment strategy to grow organically and through acquisition is backed by private equity groups One Equity Partners and LDC as it creates hubs of scale in North America, the UK and Europe.
Previously known as Big Spaceship, SPCSHP is an independent digital creative agency known for its innovative digital marketing strategies and solutions. With this acquisition, SPCSHP gains access to MSQ’s global network of best in class agencies, allowing it to provide a broader set of marketing solutions to its roster of Fortune 100 brands and better position itself for growth. Founder and chairman Michael Lebowitz and CEO Ranae Heuer will continue to lead SPCSHP as part of MSQ’s U.S. team, with SPCSHP’s 140 colleagues joining MSQ’s 1,200 colleagues operating across 13 global offices.
“SPCSHP is a shining light in the U.S., and its success is of huge credit to Michael, Ranae and the team. They have consistently delivered innovative creative work, executing integrated campaigns for their long-standing brand partners to a wide audience,” said MSQ global CEO Peter Reid. “The agency’s increasing scopes of work and recent wins are a testament to their value in the industry, and we’re delighted to have them as part of our group.”
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