Code Worldwide, the tech division of Rapp Group, has made five top appointments as part of plans to boost its senior team.
First up, the Omnicom’s Precision Marketing Group agency has recruited Valassis UK’s managing director Mark Hastings (pictured) as its new MD, with a remit to run the day-to day agency operations.
Hastings will focus on client growth at the agency as well as extending Code products and services to partners across the Omnicom Group. He will be reporting directly into Code Worldwide CEO Matt McNeany.
Hastings said: “I’m excited by the blend of products and services that Code offers, and the opportunity to put that together with Rapp expertise and place it at the heart of group proposition. I was keen to join after having great, engaging conversations with smart people across Code and Rapp, leadership who are really passionate about the proposition and doing great work for clients.”
He is joined by Jon Salt, who has been appointed managing partner at Code Worldwide and global platforms lead at TeamX, which is leading Omnicom’s work on the Mercedes-Benz global account.
Previously digital platform and product director at VMLY&R, he will look after the OneWeb RE Team with responsibility for the strategic management and operation of OneWeb for Mercedes-Benz Group.
Jessica Vo is also joining the team as global implementation and client service operations director, alongside Fahad Shiltagh as VP, operations and Lucas Galan as head of data science product.
Vo has been brought into the business to build its capabilities in relation to supporting global clients with their implementation, focusing on automation and data. She will be driving time efficiencies, whilst aligning with clients’ strategic goals and data analytics.
Shiltagh was previously director of programme management at Wunderman Thompson Technology. With a remit to help join up service offerings in response to increasing amounts of integrated work across the group, he will work alongside Jessica and the wider team to scale up its global programme offering.
Completing the line-up, Galan is charged with scaling and innovating Code’s data product set to sit alongside its adZU content automation product. Galan, who joins from fellow Omnicom agency Flamingo, is starting by pioneering Code’s Content Intelligence product – which combines AI with machine learning to produce automated content recommendations for cross-channel personalised marketing.
McNeany said: “These are exciting times at Code. We are seeing amazing growth from clients looking to transform their ability to deliver true cross-channel personalisation at scale. Now we’re setting ourselves up for the next phase of growth by bringing in some of the best talent in the industry. We’re delighted and flattered that Mark, Jon, Jess, Fahad and Lucas chose to join Code and bring with them the expertise and energy our clients are looking to us for.”
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