Ruder Finn announced several key senior hires and new roles, strengthening the firm’s focus growth in the digital, technology and multi-media marketing areas.
Rowan Benecke will join Ruder Finn as the Chief Growth Officer, starting September 17. Rowan, who has more than 25 years’ experience, was most recently the Global Chair of Technology at Burson Marsteller, but also held senior roles at Text100 and WE Communications. Rowan will lead global growth strategies for the agency, including business development, strategic partnerships, acquisitions and developing key client relationships. Rowan has a long history and an impressive track record winning blue-chip clients in his former roles, such as Airbnb, Cisco, Facebook, HP, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, Motorola, NextVR, Oracle, Philips, Qualcomm, Snap, T-Mobile, Vodafone and Zebra.
“I am thrilled to be joining Ruder Finn at this pivotal time as the agency continues to transform and integrate technology into everything they do,” says Benecke. “I look forward to bringing my deep experience in both the technology industry as well as broader business development to elevate Ruder Finn’s impressive capabilities and experience for established and emerging global brands.”
Constantine Frangos has also recently joined Ruder Finn as Creative Director, a newly created role. Constantine will bring more than 20 years of broad creative experience across advertising, marketing and digital, having worked with clients in the healthcare, consumer/retail products, mobile, food and beverage, and among others. Constantine will not only create multi-channel platforms and creative content for Ruder Finn clients, but also help the agency integrate its offerings under one creative platform. He comes to Ruder Finn most recently from W2O where he worked as Creative Director across a myriad of brands and programs. Prior to that he was Creative Director at Rocksa, a creative marketing agency.
Tejas Totade will also assume a new role as Head of Emerging Technologies for Ruder Finn, focusing on Analytics and Voice. Tejas, formerly the Group VP Technology and Innovation, will broaden his focus on Ruder Finn’s expanding data and analytics services and its proprietary real-time social listening tool, BEACON RF’s AI targeting tool, as well as Ruder Finn’s Voice offerings, including the development of Alexa Skills and more. Ruder Finn has developed several Skills for blue-chip companies, and was also nominated for 6 industry awards for its thought leadership Skill, Kathy’s Thoughts.
“Our recent strategic hires are a key part of our growth strategy focused on building our expertise in integrated digital, technology and marketing communications offerings,” says Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn. “Both Rowan and Constantine are key talent additions to the agency and help cement our place as a leading digital technology agency that is able to flex across various communications platforms.”
Additionally, Ruder Finn continues to build its dynamic position in healthtech, working both with companies that are disrupting the health industry with new data offerings for better patient outcomes, as well as companies incorporating disruptive communications platforms as part of the consumer experience, using tools such as Voice technology and Alexa Skills.
In June, Ruder Finn announced the hire of Fred Hawrysh to a newly created senior role in the agency as EVP, Head of Integrated Communications. The agency also recently acquired RLA Collective, a sales-driven integrated marketing agency specializing in health and wellness, including over-the-counter (OTC), nutritional supplement and medical device brands in North America.
