BCW Strengthens Focus on Client Relationships and Growth with Strategic New Hires and PromotionsOctober 9, 2023

Kristine Boyden Joins as CEO, Americas
Michelle Hutton Joins as Global Chief Client and Growth Officer
BCW Veterans Scott Wilson and Guido Gaona Take on Expanded Responsibilities

NEW YORK, October 9, 2023 – BCW, one of the world’s leading global communications agencies, today announced two key hires and two internal promotions as it strengthens its commitment to building long-standing and thriving client relationships led by world-class counselors and creative thinkers.

“The promise we make to our clients and future clients is to serve them as a partner in every sense of the word, from communications to strategy to reputation management to employee engagement to policy, regulatory challenges and beyond,” said Corey duBrowa, Global CEO, BCW. “With these key hires and promotions, we have put talented people in place with fantastic track records in building enduring client relationships; developing exceptional, multi-faceted teams; and growing business through breakthrough creative programs and campaigns.”

Kristine Boyden Named CEO, the Americas, BCW

Effective October 16, Kristine Boyden will join the agency as CEO, Americas, covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America, with oversight of business growth; senior client counsel; and talent acquisition, development and retention. She also has been named a member of BCW’s Executive Committee and global board.

San Francisco-based Boyden joins BCW after three years as Chief Communications Officer with Cruise, the self-driving automotive company. In that role she built a modern communications team, an in-house creative studio and cutting-edge media analytics operation. Before joining Cruise, Boyden spent more than 18 years with Edelman, most recently as President of the agency’s the U.S. Western Region, leading more than 650 colleagues and award-winning campaigns. Before that, she spent six years as the global client relationship leader for HP. She also was a key architect of firm’s approach to serving global clients at scale and a co-founder of its U.S. large clients and talent development program. Over the course of her career at Edelman, Boyden represented clients spanning fast-growing startups to Fortune 50 companies across myriad sectors, including Adobe, Genentech, Taco Bell, Starbucks, PayPal, and many more. Boyden began her career deep in the early days of the tech sector helping start-ups develop business plans and secure funding.

Mary Corcoran will depart BCW at the end of 2023 from her role as President, North America.

“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Kristine as a client for several years and have seen up close her rigorous approach to client service and her unwavering commitment to talent development – two things that go hand-in-hand in terms of business growth and the professional advancement of our colleagues,” duBrowa noted, to whom Boyden reports. “She is a consummate counselor who lives and breathes her clients’ businesses – a practice she will further embed across our Americas region. Add to all of this her commitment to creativity that makes an impact on business, and you can see why I could not be happier to welcome Kristine to BCW.”

Michelle Hutton Joins as Global Chief Client and Growth Officer

Michelle Hutton will join BCW as Global Chief Client and Growth Officer, responsible for strengthening the agency’s client-first ethos and working with global and regional leadership to advance its new business culture. She will become a member of the agency’s Executive Committee and global board. She will join BCW by the end of 2023.

Before joining BCW, Hutton spent more than 13 years with Edelman, most recently as Vice Chair, Client Solutions, Asia-Pacific, where she led the agency’s top client portfolio which delivered more than half of the regional revenue. In that role, she led the delivery of topline growth year-on-year by introducing new services across the portfolio, and her team delivered more awards at global creative festivals than ever achieved previously. Before that she was CEO, Australia, Asia-Pacific Brand Chair, and built a team of leaders across creative, strategy and digital. While with Edelman she also served in several senior roles across Europe, including as Managing Director, Global Client Strategy; Chief Operating Officer, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States; and Global Consumer Practice Chair. Before her career with Edelman, Hutton spent 19 years with Hill & Knowlton in Australia and Asia.

“Michelle has an impeccable track record of exceeding client expectations at every turn, both in creativity and in results, which has yielded record and sustained agency growth,” duBrowa added and to whom Hutton reports. “She will be the perfect partner to our regional leaders in developing new services and solutions for our clients and in embedding a rigorous focus on quality and client satisfaction across everything we do.”

Scott Wilson Promoted to CEO, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Scott Wilson, a 13-year BCW veteran, has been promoted to CEO of BCW’s newly formed EMEA region. He had been President, Europe & Africa, for the past five years. Before that, he was UK CEO and Managing Director of EMEA under Cohn & Wolfe. Earlier in his career, he was Managing Director, Consumer Marketing UK and EMEA with Weber Shandwick and Head of Media with Porter Novelli. Wilson continues to report to duBrowa.

Sunil John, President of the Middle East and North Africa, and founder of the Middle East’s ASDA’A BCW, sold his shares in the company to WPP earlier in the year and will remain in his role as President through the end of 2023. He will be helping to transition the region and clients to Wilson and the two will work together to appoint new leadership for ASDA’A BCW.

Guido Gaona Named President, Latin America

Guido Gaona has been promoted to President, Latin America (LatAm), responsible for all of BCW's business and talent across Latin America, inclusive of BCW Brazil Group which comprises BCW Brazil and Máquina CW. Gaona will report to Boyden, and he will sit on BCW's Executive Committee.

Prior to this, Gaona had been Executive Vice President, LatAm, for nearly four years, leading BCW’s Mexico market. Earlier, he spent three years as a managing director with BCW Argentina. Before brief stints with PPR Worldwide and SAP in Mexico, he spent seven years with BCW in LatAm, as Innovation and Technology Practice Director, Mexico; Colombia Market Leader; Innovation and Technology Practice Chair, LatAm; and Chief Operating Officer, Mexico.

“Over their long careers with the agency, Scott and Guido have more than demonstrated highly successful client management, business growth and talent mentorship,” duBrowa continued. “I’m delighted for them to expand their oversight of the business and am very confident in their continued success.

“With these moves, I’d like to thank both Mary Corcoran and Sunil John for all of their contributions to the agency over the years – Sunil built ASDA’A BCW from the ground up over two decades of effort – and wish them the best in their future endeavors,” duBrowa said.