BCW Announces New Leadership for Brand, Communications and Marketing TeamsDecember 1, 2022

NEW YORK, December 1, 2022 – BCW, a leading global communications agency, today announced three appointments to bolster its global brand, communications and marketing functions. Rebecca Grant has been named Global Chief Brand Officer, responsible for initiatives that support BCW’s Moving People brand promise. Catherine Sullivan has been named Global Chief Communications Officer for BCW Group, overseeing communications and reputation for all companies in the Group. Melanie Mitchem recently joined BCW as Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, responsible for overseeing the agency’s regional marketing teams across the global network and raising BCW ‘s visibility in the marketplace.

As Global Chief Brand Officer, Grant leads a team spearheading the proprietary research, thought leadership, tools and campaigns that comprise BCW’s Moving People platform.  Grant will continue in her role as CEO of BCW’s UK market and as a member of the agency’s global board. Grant has been with the organization for 12 years, having served since 2018 as CEO of BCW UK and overseeing double-digit revenue growth. Before that, she was Managing Director of Consumer Marketing in the UK and EMEA for Cohn & Wolfe. Earlier in her career, Grant was with Weber Shandwick, Red Consultancy and MSL.

“BCW’s mission is to move people on behalf of our clients to move their businesses forward,” said Donna Imperato, Global CEO, BCW, to whom Grant reports in her brand stewardship capacity. “Moving people requires a deep understanding and articulation of the wide range of ideas, science, emotions and aspirations that can move people to take action. Rebecca is an incredibly powerful brand marketer whose broad expertise across brands and industries make her the perfect leader to bring this platform to life,” Imperato added.  

Sullivan will work closely with Imperato to oversee communications and reputation management across the BCW Group, which includes AxiCom, BCW, Direct Impact, GCI Health, Goodfuse, HZ and Prime Policy Group. She has been with the organization since 2014, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Global Communications for BCW, having previously been Managing Director, Worldwide Communications for Burson-Marsteller. Before that, she was Director of Communications for Porter Novelli. Earlier in her career, Sullivan served in client-facing roles with MSL, Publicis Dialog, G&S Business Communications (formerly Gibbs & Soell) and Cohn & Wolfe. Sullivan continues to report to Imperato.

“No one knows our industry, the issues and the opportunities better than Catherine,” said Imperato. “She has keen insight and judgment, which make her an expert counselor to me and all of our leaders as we communicate the essential news of our business.”

Mitchem is an experienced marketing and communications executive who brings strategic insights and a multi-disciplinary approach to creating award-winning campaigns and implementing integrated programs that position agency brands. Included in her global responsibilities is a focus on thought leadership and positioning BCW leadership as experts in the industry. Mitchem joined BCW from FCB Global, where she spent nearly four years, most recently as Senior Vice President, Executive Director of Global Communications and Public Relations. In that role, she led targeted marketing communications efforts designed to enhance FCB’s brand reputation and differentiate it from its peers. Before that, she spent several years leading her own firm, M2, counseling a wide variety of luxury, creative and philanthropic brands. Earlier in her career, she served in similar corporate communications capacities with IPG’s Mediabrands and Universal McCann, as well as Omnicom’s PHD Media and BBDO. She reports to BCW’s Global President Brooke Hovey.

“Melanie’s extensive experience in building agency brands will be enormously valuable in creating awareness and demand for BCW solutions among an ever-expanding client base,” said Hovey. “Her energy and tenacity are infectious and will help lead our marketing teams across our global network to new heights.”