Today Colle McVoy announced two promotions and a new hire that strengthen its leadership and significantly advance efforts to evolve the agency and accelerate growth. Jessica Henrichs has been promoted to president of the agency. Alycia Hamilton has joined the agency in the new position of executive director of account and project management. Puja Shah has been promoted to group creative director (GCD).

Henrichs, who joined the agency in November 2019 as managing director, head of client growth, will expand her oversight across all disciplines to drive innovation and groundbreaking solutions for clients. Over the last year, she helped lead the agency through bold and well-timed initiatives to reinvent its integrated model that guided clients through unprecedented times and attracted more than a dozen new clients, such as AccuWeather, Anytime Fitness, Burnett Dairy, Credit Sesame, CrossCountry Mortgage, Deluxe, Feeding America, Medtronic, Real System, Schwan’s Home Delivery and U.S. Bank. She reports directly to CEO Christine Fruechte.

“Jess has helped us lead the organization during one of the most challenging times in our history and will continue to be instrumental in shaping our continued evolution and growth,” said Fruechte. “We are constantly pushing the boundaries of how we operate to make sure we are not only delivering best-in-class work that drives business results for our clients, but also shaping the future of agencies and our own next.”

Part of the continued transformation includes the unification of the agency’s account and project management capabilities under one leader. In this new role, Alycia Hamilton will use her business acumen and operational and account management excellence to oversee the integration of these teams with a focus on advancing ground-breaking ideas and speed to market. Hamilton reports to Henrichs and joins the agency’s senior leadership team.

“Alycia is a business operations wizard who can manage large, innovative teams and processes, while finding efficiencies and spotting new growth opportunities,” said Henrichs. “She’s also a true business driver who understands how to future proof brands, inspire bold ideas and deliver flawless work.”

Hamilton joins Colle McVoy from Digitas where she was most recently SVP of account management leading the Kimberly-Clark and Delta Dental accounts as well as the entire portfolio of Mizkan brands. During her eight years there, she also led business for MillerCoors, Sprint, BP, Maytag and Whirlpool. Hamilton also formerly led digital strategies for Covergirl Cosmetics while at G2 NYC and began her career at Kraft Foods managing Gevalia Coffee’s CRM programs.

As GCD, Puja Shah joins the agency’s creative leadership team and expands her global perspective, passion and influence across the agency and its work. During her four-year tenure at Colle McVoy, Puja has led high profile projects for 3M, Anytime Fitness, Associated Bank, Invisalign, Little Free Library, Proof Alliance and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation. Her creative leadership has grown businesses and been lauded with many industry awards.

“Puja’s exceptional talent and creative passion inspire everyone around her,” said Mike Caguin, chief creative officer, Colle McVoy. “Whether it’s developing a global campaign for a Fortune 500 company or finding a way to deliver a social effort quickly and efficiently, Puja identifies the most interesting idea in a sea of good ones and then pushes to make it the best it can be. She also sets a high bar and then lifts the team over that bar.”

Prior to Colle McVoy, Shah spent time at some of the most creative agencies around the world including Fallon in Minneapolis, RPA in Los Angeles and Leo Burnett in Mumbai. Her portfolio of work has been recognized by nearly every major award show. Shah is a strident champion for diverse talent as well as a mentor and role model to many, which gained her recognition as an Advertising Week 2020 Future is Female award winner.