LONDON – Thursday, December 5, 2019 – Octagon, the preeminent integrated marketing and talent management agency in global sports and entertainment, today announced the promotion of Jeff Meeson to Managing Director of Europe, and Ben Hartman to Chief Client Officer, International.
As Managing Director of Europe, Meeson will oversee Octagon’s efforts across the agency’s seven European offices in Germany, France, Spain and the UK, and lead a team of nearly 200 specialists in planning, creative, production and client services. Meeson previously served as Executive Vice President, Strategy. He will relocate from Octagon’s global headquarters in Stamford, CT, to the agency’s European hub in London.
Hartman, formerly Managing Director of APAC, will oversee the way the Octagon operates and supports clients through creative, planning, strategy, data and innovation across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Hartman will retain his base in Sydney.
Meeson and Hartman will report to John Shea, Global President, Marketing and Events, Octagon Worldwide.
“Jeff and Ben’s tremendous contributions to the agency and our clients for the past 10 years has been immeasurable, and we’re thrilled to have them leading Octagon’s efforts across Europe.” said Shea. “Our many decades of success in the region and across the globe has always been based on providing the highest level of work and exceeding expectations. Jeff and Ben’s leadership, experience, and creativity, will help us continue to produce ground-breaking and award-winning work for our clients, build even more synergy across our European offices, and further our position as the best marketing and consulting agency in the industry.”
In the UK, Meeson will work closely with Joel Seymour-Hyde, Managing Director, UK, who will oversee the consolidated Octagon and FRUKT business across sport and entertainment. As part of the new structure, Adam Butters will step into a new role as Head of Entertainment, UK, to focus on the business growth across this platform.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining our talented Marketing and Events team in Europe, and to have the opportunity to enhance and accelerate Octagon’s European business efforts,” said Meeson. “The creative work coming out of the region with brands such as Paddy Power, Accor, PlayStation, Deliveroo and Expedia, alongside long-standing client partners such as Mastercard and Shell, provides a great opportunity to further deliver against the goals of our clients and the agency. I can’t wait to get started.”
“Our business across the world has grown and diversified at a significant pace over the past five years. With this evolution, we want to ensure that we are looking to improve, broaden and expand the scale and quality of work that we deliver for our clients,” said Hartman. “I’m incredibly excited to be getting back on the tools in many ways, as I see the strong creative and strategic work that is being produced across the agency and feel fortunate that we are dedicating even more resource and energy to this.”
Meeson and Hartman join Lou Kovacs, President of Marketing, North America, and Aykan Azar, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, on a newly formed executive team reporting into Shea.
ABOUT OCTAGON:
Octagon is a creative agency specialising in sport, entertainment and culture. We create partnerships, campaigns and experiences that earn attention for some of the world’s most inspiring brands and rights-holders. See more at Octagon.com/united-kingdom and join us @OctagonUK.
–ENDS–
Media Contact:
Alex Rozis
Vice President Global Communications