Team Farner Appoints H&K Leader As New CEO
Date
7/16/2024 6:14:35 AM
(MENAFN- PRovoke)
ZURICH - Team Farner has made changes to its senior leadership, with long-standing owner and managing partner Roman Geiser becoming chairman, and Melanie Faithfull Kent, formerly CEO of Hill & Knowlton Europe, being appointed to succeed him as CEO of the European agency group.
The move marks the next phase of growth for the agency, which is backed by Waterland Private Equity and made seven acquisitions in 2023, including Lansons in the UK , Kirchoff Consult and Komm in Germany, and Skills and All Channels in Austria. The firm now has 17 offices across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the UK, the Netherlands and the US.
In his new role as chairman, Geiser (pictured, left) will focus on development of key accounts and the continued growth of Team Farner – named as PRovoke Media's financial agency of the year in EMEA and DACH consultancy of the year for 2024 – via further mergers and acquisitions.
Geiser, who has led the agency as executive chairman and CEO since Farner International became Team Farner in 2021, and has driven its expansion, said:“I am proud that Melanie Faithfull Kent is taking over the leadership of Team Farner. This planned transition allows me to concentrate on strategy and M&A in the next phase of the company's development – in addition to remaining a shareholder – and to place the operational management of the agency group in Melanie's hands after the first brilliant phase of growth.
“We have more than tripled our turnover and number of employees in the last three years, made 12 acquisitions and thus created one of the most influential agencies in Europe”.
Team Farner's fee income grew 25% in 2023 to $112.6 million, and its client portfolio includes Abbvie, IBM, ING, Merck, Microsoft, Roche, SwissLife, UBS, Lidl, Porsche, Santander and Volkswagen.
Faithfull Kent (pictured, right), who was previously responsible for 10 H&K offices across Europe, said:“I am very much looking forward to the exciting task of continuing the success story of Team Farner. The positioning of Farner as a management consultancy for integrated communication is groundbreaking for me.
“The independent spirit, entrepreneurial DNA and the built-in agility of the partner-led group underpin a unique multidisciplinary client offer. This is added value for clients and for people and it's a promising recipe for the future.”
At Waterland Private Equity, principal Philippe Moser added:“We are delighted to be able to appoint Melanie, a strong leader and proven international agency manager. With her and the more than 60 partners, we want to drive the further development of Team Farner into one of the leading agency brands in Europe. We are grateful for the initial build-up of Team Farner with Roman and that he will continue to help shape the agency at a strategic level and accompany the transition in leadership.”
Waterland also recently bought a majority stake
in data and insight, broadcast and virtual events and live streaming group Markettiers4DC.
MENAFN16072024000219011063ID1108443988
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.