Rapp boss Scognamiglio hangs up boots after 25 years

Rapp global chief executive Marco Scognamiglio is set stand down from his role over 25 years after he first joined the agency as a client director.

Scognamiglio was appointed to the top global role of the Omnicom agency in December 2016, six months after he was handed the post on an interim basis to calm the stormy waters which had been lashing the business over controversial boss Alexei Orlov.

The row had first erupted in May 2016, when the former US president of Rapp, Greg Andersen, unleashed a scathing attack on the then global CEO in a lawsuit against the agency, which accused him of discrimination, retaliation and wrongful dismissal.

The agency initially defended Orlov, with its lawyers insisting he was a victim of “outrageous allegations”. But as pressure grew – and allegations mounted – Orlov resigned a month later.

Scognamiglio, who is , had actually started his career at WWAV in 1987 as an account manager. Spells at Saatchi & Saatchi and Tequila followed and then he joined Barraclough Hall Woolston Gray in 1997 as head of client service. The agency had been bought by Omnicom a year earlier and eventually rebranded Proximity London.

In 1999, Scognamiglio returned to WWAV – which had also rebranded, to WWAV Rapp Collins – as client director, securing promotion to managing director of the agency’s Edinburgh office in 2001. He returned in 2004 to head up the London business as managing director and was promoted to CEO of Rapp UK in 2009.

In 2015, Scognamiglio was promoted once more, to build the Rapp network in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

On his appointment to the global CEO role, chairman and CEO of Omnicom’s DAS agency division Dale Adams said: “Taking into account his many years of experience leading the Rapp network in various markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Marco is the right person to have at the helm of the agency to drive and deliver on the organisation’s strategy. I’m confident that Marco will continue to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of Rapp’s diverse client base.”

One final twist was to unfold in 2020, when Rapp finally saw off Proximity – its long-term rival in the Omnicom Precision Marketing Group – when the latter was swallowed up under the Rapp moniker.

Under the new structure, Scognamiglio remained head honcho, while Proximity global CEO Mike Dodds was appointed boss of Rapp EMEA but left less than a year later to set up his own consultancy.

Currently Rapp has about 50 offices in 30 countries worldwide; in the UK, the agency is based on Bankside in London.

What the future holds for Scognamiglio is uncertain, although having survived the cut throat agency world for so long, if he does want a new role, he could easily walk into any position in the diplomatic service.

A Rapp spokesperson said: “Marco is still in the business. He has, though, expressed, the desire to retire in the somewhat near future, so we’re preparing, and exploring options for, his succession.”