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WIllard
Olga Willard, currently executive vice president at Willard, who has held account leader and strategic planner positions in several agencies over the last decade, has been named chief executive officer of Willard Ukraine, an integrated marketing and communications company.
Ms.Willard previously worked in account leadership positions in international agencies Scholz & Friends, Grey Worldwide, and DDB, prior to joining Willard five years ago as strategic planner. She currently is client leader for sanofi-aventis, Astellas, SCM and the Opera Hotel in Kyiv.
Company founder Michael Willard will concentrate on future directions of the company, new business development, strategic counsel and publishing Willard Marketing Monthly.
Willard continues as chairman of the company and Chief Imagination Officer. The company also has offices in Moscow and Istanbul with representation throughout the region.
"Over the years I have attempted to set forth a vision for Willard that was innovative and broke new ground in our businesses and in management technique," said Willard. "I know that Olga will build on this foundation."
Willard said he felt it was time to concentrate on those areas he most enjoys, and is looking forward to watching and advising but not interfering in the daily operations.
Willard said he felt he had additional creative challenges and wants to pursue them. He is the author of six non-fiction books, and is a painter. His new book, "The Optimistic Alien", is being released this spring.
The company also announced a senior executive board consisting of Ms.Willard; Roman Diukarev, President of Willard Public Relations, and Tatiana Spiridonova, president of Willard Advertising.
Diukarev, who formed Willard Russia with Michael Willard in 2001, is considered is one of the foremost experts on crisis training and management in the region.
Ms. Spiridonova, has served as president of Willard Advertising for three years, and is currently client leader for Kraft and the Bel Groupe.
"Willard has survived and thrived in the tough economic atmosphere of risky markets for 16 years," said Ms. Willard. "Through innovation, hiring the best people and aggressively pursuing goals, we will maintain this standard."
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METRO Cash & Carry UkraineJacquot Boelen joined METRO Cash & Carry Ukraine, a domestic subsidiary of the German retail and wholesale giant, as managing director. Boelen, a 20-year veteran of the retail business, comes to METRO after most recently serving as an advisor to the chief executive officer of a Russian retail group, X5 Retail Group. He started his career in the Netherlands as a manager trainee for Vroom & Dreesman department stores. From 2003 through 2007, Boelen was the president of Ahold retail company in Poland Boelen has worked for the METRO Cash & Carry group, starting in 1996 as operations director in Poland, then, in 1999, becoming a managing director of sales. Boelen holds a degree in marketing from NIMA-A, the Dutch Marketing Institute, and MBA from Henley University. |
Tough Love with the Omniscient Pablo PistachioWe had a news conference the other day, and though my boss had something important to say, he didn't get quoted as much as the other company on the platform.
Welcome to the sixth issue of the magazine too ornery to die, the magazine for CEOs, marketing specialists, advertising mavens, public relations executives and anyone else with the God-given talent to move product and services.Selling the story an important part of marketing
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