Female leadership duo to lead Wavemaker into new era

As Paul Hutchison resigns from Wavemaker, Kelly Parker is promoted to UK Chief Executive and Katie Lee named Chief Operating Officer. 

After four years as UK CEO and with a total of twelve years at the agency, Paul Hutchison, ‘Hutch’, is moving to Australia to take on a new role outside the group. During his time at Wavemaker, he successfully navigated the business through the Maxus/MEC merger, won agency defining business, for example in Nationwide, championed DE&I planning as an opt out versus an opt in approach and redefined the agency’s media partner collaboration. 

Parker moves into the post as CEO in June from her previous position as UK Chief Operating Officer, reporting into EMEA CEO Ruth Stubbs. Katie Lee will move up from Wavemaker’s UK Chief Growth Officer to Chief Operating Officer.  

Commenting on the appointment, Wavemaker EMEA CEO Ruth Stubbs said, “Working with Kelly over the past 18 months has been an absolute pleasure. She is a people first, approachable and collaborative leader that understands the importance of being close to the work for her clients. Her contribution to both regional and UK business has been invaluable.  

I’m really proud to see two brilliant women taking the lead in our biggest EMEA market. The combined skillsets of Kelly and Katie provide Wavemaker with something that is positively provocative and differentiating. I look forward to seeing the Kelly-Katie duo propel Wavemaker UK into a new era of growth for the agency, our clients and people.”  

Stubbs continued, “As part of his move to Australia, I know Hutch will continue to drive change and growth. We would like to thank him for his contribution to making Wavemaker UK the thriving, successful agency it is today.”    

Parker added, “I’m absolutely thrilled to take on the opportunity of leading Wavemaker into our next chapter. Working closely with our brilliant leadership team and all 400 of our fabulous Wavemakers, I know we will go beyond expectations, fuelled by our attitude of positive provocation and bringing new market-leading technology and operating models to our current clients, and the market.”  

Parker will be part of the Wavemaker EMEA and GroupM UK Executive Leadership Teams. Prior to Wavemaker, Parker’s experience included roles at OMD EMEA as Chief Client Offer, Client Partner OMD UK, Head of Planning at Havas Media UK and Business Director at MPG.