Allen joins Publicis Chemistry

Publicis Chemistry has appointed Gyro’s global planning chief Kevin Allen to take up the role of executive planning director.
Allen started his career at Thomson Publishing in 1990, eventually becoming marketing director, before joining FT owner Pearson as vice president of editorial, Europe.
In 2000, he then set up his own business Onion, which merged with the now-defunct Cramm Francis Woolf. During his time at CFW, Allen set up the agency’s digital division, working across all sectors but specialising in financial and government clients.
When the agency collapsed, he joined Proximity London in 2005, originally as new business planning director. While there, Allen was instrumental in developing some of the agency’s largest international clients, such as GE, Bayer and Allianz. He joined Gyro – then GyroHSR – in March 2011.
Replacing Malcolm Cotton, who moved over with Chemistry when it was bought by Publicis, Allen will report to chief executive Mike Welsh. He will also sit on the board.
Allen will run the agency’s planning function and work across clients including EE, Visa, SCA Hygiene and Gatwick Airport.
Welsh said: “Kevin is one of the best planners in the business, with considerable experience in both B2B and B2C, and his digital credentials are impeccable.”

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