The New York offices of Deutsch have hired Maggie O. Connors away from J. Walter Thompson to serve as EVP/head of business development.
The agency frames the new hire as the final step in the re-invigoration of its New York office following the recent additions of partner/chief technology officer Trevor O’Brien, chief strategy officer Andrew Dawson, and partner/chief creative officer Dan Kelleher. Those four join chief planning/investment officer Anush Prabhu and chief operating officer Erica Grau in rounding out the office’s leadership team.
“With Maggie’s palpable energy, quick-witted smarts, and driving business force, she is undoubtedly the right fit for this passionate team that is raring to go,” said CEO Val DiFebo.
In the new role, Connors will report to DiFebo and work alongside North American CMO Jeff White to handle pitches and identify new business opportunities.
She joins Deutsch after spending nearly two years as director of business development at JWT in New York, where she led all pitches and worked across the agency’s North American and global networks to score “one new win a month for 14 straight months.”
“I am thrilled to be part of the new energy and focus at Deutsch,” said Connors, who starts on June 13. “The foundation is set and I can’t wait to be a part of the team.”
The decision to make the hire came before the recent JWT shakeup, with Deutsch reaching out to Connors as soon as it learned that New York CMO Tara Levine would be leaving for Omnicom’s new P&G-powered media network Hearts & Science, where she currently serves as chief experience officer.
Connors will effectively fill Levine’s previous role with a modified title.