‘Booming’ Medialab hires ex-Starcom MediaVest boss

Stewart EasterbrookMedialab, the data-driven media agency, has appointed former Starcom MediaVest Group chief executive Stewart Easterbrook to be chairman as part of a major hiring spree following a year of rapid growth.
Easterbrook has taken on a number of advisory roles after leaving MediaVest in 2014 following a six year stint as CEO and executive director of digital development. These include MiQ(formerly MediaiQ), Content Inc and Wooshii.
As part of ambitious growth and development plans, Medialab is also enhancing its service offering with the appointments of MC&C digital director Tony Oakley as head of digital and ten other key senior executive hires. Last year the agency also hired John Ayling & Associates veteran Steve Venes to the new role of broadcast director.
The appointments follow a raft of new business wins, including work for The Royal British Legion, N Brown Group and The Spectator. Medialab claims that this continued new client success, coupled with a 100% client retention rate for 2017-18, means that to the agency will grow by over 110% this year.
Easterbrook said: “The incredible growth and client retention that Medialab has experienced highlights the appetite clients have for our unique approach to media planning and buying. I am delighted to be joining the already impressive board as chairman, as they perfectly represent the changing nature of the agency model within the industry, a topic I’m very passionate about. We live in a time where transparency is key. Medialab are committed to providing this for their clients.”
Medialab  CEO Marcus Orme added: “Our curiosity and ambition to continually optimise and innovate our proposition ensures we provide the best results for our clients. This plethora of senior hires demonstrates our commitment to continually provide the best in market offering, and the most cost-effective solutions for our clients. This is all down to the incredible team we have, one which delivers a turnover per head that is 156% ahead of other agencies our size.”
Charity specialist Stephen Pidgeon was appointed non-exec director of Medialab in 2015.

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