The Mars Agency announces the addition of Elise Wilfinger as EVP, Corporate Strategy & Brand Officer, a new role that reports to Rob Rivenburgh, CEO, North America.
Wilfinger will be responsible for driving strategic change at the agency, growing its industry profile and reputation, creating corporate brand, marketing and business development strategies, and overseeing best-in-class execution. Her role is central to the agency’s mission to expand and transform its services, capabilities and talent to meet evolving client needs and agency growth goals.
Most recently, Wilfinger was Chief Strategy Officer and COO at Home Team Marketing, a New York/Ohio-based media company that connects national brands with local families and high school students. She brings over 20 years of agency experience, most recently with Ryan Partnership, an Epsilon company. During her 15 years at Ryan, she held senior roles in client brand strategy, account service and business development. As Senior Partner and Ryan’s first CMO, she led growth strategy efforts to help the firm become the largest independent, full-service agency network in North America. Her team handled all business development and successfully launched the agency’s new proposition, marketing and PR. In these roles, Wilfinger maintained responsibility for leading client engagements, including Chase, Nestle Waters, Acco, 3M, Campbell’s, Nabisco, JJ Merck, Aetna, Lufthansa Airlines, Pfizer and Energizer.
“I am thrilled to welcome Elise to our executive leadership team,” said Rob Rivenburgh, CEO North America at The Mars Agency. “Her expertise in brand strategy, CRM/loyalty marketing, digital and analytics will provide additional perspective as we build momentum, expand our capabilities and accelerate growth. She is passionate about her craft and shares my enthusiasm and vision for the future of shopper and consumer marketing, as well as the impact it can have for clients across verticals. We are undergoing a transformation ourselves and need new leaders, like Elise, to help take us to greater heights.”
Prior to Ryan, Wilfinger led large agency teams at McCann Relationship Marketing, Digitas and Ogilvy & Mather Direct, providing strategy, creative inspiration and account service support for clients American Express, The House of Seagram, Nestle/Carnation and AT&T.
About The Mars Agency
The Mars Agency is a full-service, global shopper and consumer marketing leader, operating in 11 offices in North America and Europe. For nearly 45 years, the agency has been consistently recognized as a thought-leader in the shopper space, attracting an impressive client base which includes Walmart, Hallmark, Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, Campbell’s and Pfizer.
To learn more about The Mars Agency, please visit http://www.themarsagency.com/.