Former MEC boss Courtier takes up MSQ chairman role

MSQPartnersMSQ Partners has recruited former MEC global chief executive Charles Courtier as non-executive chairman, succeeding Roger Parry, who stood down earlier this month in the wake of the group’s private equity deal with LDC.
Courtier started his career as a media manager at the now defunct Connell May & Steavenson in 1985 before spending a decade at Young & Rubicam. By 2002, he was appointed global CEO of MEC (now Wavemaker). During Courtier’s tenure, initially based in New York and latterly in London, MEC is said to have quadrupled in size to become a $1bn business and one of the world’s top five media agencies.
Since leaving in 2017, he has held a number of advisory roles, including Olly’s Olives, Musicplode Media, JAFA (Just A Fan’s Analysis) and Collider.
At MSQ, whose agency brands include Stack, the Gate, TwentySix, and Holmes & Marchant, Courtier will work with the last remaining co-founder of the group, chief executive Peter Reid.
He will lead the group’s board, and help shape the overall strategic direction and core elements of the group’s offer.
Reid (pictured, right) said: “Roger (Parry) has made a sterling contribution to the business and I would like to thank him, both personally and on behalf of all of the group, for his support and counsel over the years.
“I am delighted that Charles has agreed to join the group. We share a similar vision for both MSQ and the future of the marcomms industry. The depth of his industry knowledge will be hugely valuable as we position MSQ to continue to benefit from changes in the marketplace and we scale-up and roll out our multi-disciplinary model internationally.”
Courtier (pictured, left) added: “With the industry in such an exciting state of flux, the flexibility and diversity of MSQ gives it a real opportunity to emerge as one of the biggest winners from this period of change.”
Paddy Sellers, who spent 20 years at LDC, latterly as deputy CEO, also joins as a non-exec director. As well as expertise in private equity partnerships, Sellers brings experience in helping develop marcomms businesses. He currently sits on the board of Plimsoll Productions and prior to that was a non-exec at Blue Rubicon.

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