New CEO appointed at W Comms

Former UK & Ireland CEO at Weber Shandwick, Rachel Friend, has been appointed CEO at W Communications with effect from next month.

Founder of W Communications, Warren Johnson, said: “I’m delighted that with so many options, Rachel has chosen to join me in leading W at a transformative period for the business. As we approach the £10m revenue mark we are already looking to the next milestones. Rachel’s vast agency and in-house leadership experience will be integral to those plans. Anyone who thinks I will be slowing down is sadly mistaken. I will assume a Founder role with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, business expansion in other markets and talent development. At a time when a lot of people in the industry are worried about what the future holds, we see Rachel’s arrival as a real statement of intent for where we want to take the business.”

Ms Friend said: “I’ve watched and admired W over the last 10 years as Warren’s natural entrepreneurial approach has combined with his team’s uncompromising focus high on quality work to create one of the UK’s very best independent agencies. Today, as all clients and agencies experience change at a pace and scale previously unseen, inevitably new opportunities will emerge. I’m looking forward to joining Warren and his excellent team to further develop the W offering at this exciting time.”