Independent marketing and communications agency Bastion has appointed Karen Powell to the newly created global role of group chief operating officer.
She has worked across Asia Pacific and North America for more than 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge in regional go-to-market planning, integrated digital marketing, audience intelligence, marketing automation and experiential events.
Powell most recently held the role of managing director at B2B marketing agency McCorkell and Associates, which went into liquidation the week befgore Christmas. She this week led a successful bid, with the backing of many former staff, to replace the liquidator.
During her career, she has advised some of the world’s most renowned multinational brands including Salesforce, Lexus, Telstra, EMC, AIG, Harley Davidson, SAP and AMEX.
Her focus now will be overseeing Bastion’s operations globally across client, business, people, and marketing. She will be ensuring that Bastion continues to deliver world-class experiences to clients, and maintaining the company’s presence in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Los Angeles, New York City, Wellington, and Auckland, as well as agency partnerships in 10 Asian markets.
Jack Watts, Bastion’s CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to have someone with Karen’s vast experience and relentless drive on board.
"We have spent over a decade building Bastion to be the new world agency, to think wide and deliver deep expertise.
"Really as an agency you are judged on two things – Client experience and Staff experience, Karen is tasked with ensuring those two things are truly world class, every day, and that clients can access our wide range of services, in a completely seamless way.
"Personally, the search for a superstar COO was a long one. There aren’t many people in the agency game who have grown independent agencies, at scale, across multiple services and markets. Karen has done that, and after a year of convincing, we’re wrapped to have her on board the mission.”
Powell: “I am delighted to be part of Bastion’s next stage of growth and to help bring Jack’s vision to life. Bastion’s integrated model across all business units, globally, is genuinely unique.
"Offering the agility of an independent agency and providing expertise from a wide range of disciplines allows for truly world-class work for our clients.
"I look forward to working with the diverse, curious, and creative people at Bastion as we continue to grow the new world Agency."
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