Our Team
Meet our celebrated and influential management team, who guide almost 5,000 specialists throughout the
MEC network.
Charles Courtier - Chief Executive Officer Global
In his role as Chief Executive Officer, Charles is responsible for one of the world's largest networks, overseeing
more than 5,000 people in 84 countries.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012, MEC has enjoyed a great run of success since its launch, doubling in
size and counting over 5,000 successful new business pitches around the network. MEC also holds the unique
distinction of being named Global Media Agency of the Year by both Adweek and Advertising Age twice, in
2006 and 2007.
Under Charles’ leadership, the company has grown its diversified offer into an industry-leading business
model, launching specialist services MEC Interaction (digital, mobile, social and search), MEC Access (sport
and entertainment), MEC Bravo (multi-cultural) and MEC Retail.
Charles's media career spans more than twenty five years, starting as a media planner with Y&R.
He is married with three children.
Alastair Aird - Chief Operating Officer, Global. Chairman, Europe, Middle East and Africa
As Chairman for the EMEA region, Alastair leads the largest MEC region with businesses in more than 50
countries and with over 2,500 staff.
As our Global COO Alastair is responsible for the commercial operations of the business across the world. He
works with regional management in North and Latin America and Asia pacific to deliver genuine business
value to our clients.
In 2007 Alastair managed the successful launch of MEC Access; combining all the sport, entertainment and
cause businesses within MEC into one, industry-leading offer.
Before Alastair joined MEC in 2005, he spent 5 years at Leo Burnett, latterly as COO for the UK group. He
oversaw the merger of D'Arcy and Leo Burnett and was responsible for developing diversified businesses.
Alastair began his career as a Chartered Accountant at Price Waterhouse in 1991. 3 years later he moved to
The Walt Disney Company, working for the filmed entertainment division, Buena Vista International where he
held a number of roles both in Europe and the US.
Alastair is married with four children and enjoys cricket, tennis and running the London Marathon.
Carl Fremont - Chief Digital Officer, Global
As head of digital globally, Carl works with MEC’s digital leadership and others around the world to develop,
grow and drive the agency’s digital business globally, fully integrated within MEC.
Carl has played a leading role in the industry. As a frequent industry speaker and consultant, he often quoted
in the press on his views on the future of marketing and media. At Digitas since 2000, Carl has led the Global
Media practice comprised of over 500 professionals in seven domestic and international offices, working with
clients including America Express, Whirlpool, Delta, Sprint, Mars, Meade Johnson, Taco Bell and eBay.
Prior to joining Digitas, Carl was a Senior Vice President of Media Services at Wunderman. During Carl’s 16
year tenure at Wunderman, he managed all direct marketing activities for the company including Ford,
Citibank, American Express and AT&T. At Wunderman.
Carl serves on the advisory boards of a select number of digital venture groups and is a consultant for GLG,
Guidepoint and Pacific CrestCarl is also a board member of NextMark. Carl was elected to the Ad Club of New
York Board of Directors in 2009 and serves as its lead for Media Action, which since its inception has raised
over $10MM (US) in scholarship funds for diversity students entering the Marketing and Communications
fields.
Carl is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickenson University. He resides in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
Caroline Foster-Kenny - Chief Client Officer Global
As Chief Client Officer, Caroline is responsible for client management and our service delivery across the
network. Working with our senior client leaders, it is her job to listen to our clients, understand their business
issues and marketing needs and to develop world-class, tailor-made offers for each.
Caroline has more than twenty years of agency experience - and for more than ten of these years she has
specialized in International Client Management, working across virtually all sectors in multiple markets and
regions.
Caroline spent six years in Asia as Managing Director of MEC based in Hong Kong and Shanghai. She was a
pioneer in this sector, helping to establish and build the first media specialist agency in the Asian region.
Under her stewardship, MEC Hong Kong was named Media Agency of the Year twice. Caroline was also
named Hong Kong’s 2001 Business Woman of the Year by China’s largest monthly Women’s Magazine.
Prior to Caroline’s time in Asia, her attentions were focused on the Print arena where she was MEC UK’s Press
Buying Director, responsible for the agency’s print negotiations and performance.
As well as securing both local and international management experience prior to joining the agency world,
Caroline worked in advertising sales at the UK national newspaper, The Independent.
Caroline lives in London, is married and has three children.
Marla Kaplowitz - Chief Executive Officer North America
In her role as CEO, Marla brings modern strategic leadership to MEC North America.
Marla joined MEC as President, US Client Services and Head of Planning in March 2011. Marla has over 23
years of media and communications planning experience. She is a member of Advertising Women of New
York (AWNY) and was named one of min magazine’s Top Players of 2000.
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Prior to joining MEC, Marla spent 12 years at MediaVest where she led the Procter & Gamble Communications
Planning assignment for North America. Marla began her career at DMB&B and spent eight years working
across clients including Procter & Gamble, Merck and Burger King. She then moved to Ammirati Puris Lintas
working with clients like Unilever, UPS and Nickelodeon.
She is married with two children. Marla enjoys Pilates and is passionate about film; being a longtime member
of The Film Society of Lincoln Center in NYC.
Mel Varley - Chief Strategy Officer Global
In her role as Chief Strategy officer, Mel takes responsibility for designing our future business model and for
the global development and integration of our product and services.
Mel was previously CEO, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Her work focused on building our network
capabilities and managing staff and offices in over 50 countries. She also rolled out MEC Interaction and MEC
Access across the region.
Prior to moving into the CEO role, Mel led Global Solutions, our international client service, across Europe.
Here she developed key international relationships with clients including Novartis, Henkel, Visa, BDF and
Danone. Mel also led the development and roll out of MEC Navigator, MEC's global operating system and was
responsible for the introduction of communications planning to the overall global MEC offer. Before this Mel
oversaw the management of MEC MediaLab - our global ROI, insight and development service.
Mel began her career as a Marketing Executive at Sainsbury’s. She later joined Leo Burnett (latterly Starcom)
where she managed blue-chip businesses including Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, Mercedes, Seven-Up, United
Airlines and United Biscuits.
Mel spends her spare time in Spain, collects Raku ceramics and reads obscure science fiction novels.
Michael Jones - Chief Executive Officer Latin America
Working within the international media industry for more than 20 years Michael Jones has lived and worked in
London, Paris, Guangzhou China, Hong Kong, Mexico D.F. and now resides in Miami, USA as CEO for MEC
Latin America. He began his career in the late 80’s at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising London and then moved
to France and subsequently China.
Joining WPP, Michael spent a decade running Asia where he launched The Media Edge which eventually
became MEC. Michael returned to MEC HQ in London in 2003 where he was instrumental in orchestrating the
Agency’s biggest new business wins over a two year period. In 2005, he moved to Latin America to become
their Chief Executive Officer.
Tasked to build the networks presence in this rapidly emerging region; MEC has tripled in size and is the
fastest growing network in the region. His experience includes consumer, direct and business to business
communication, working across all forms of paid, owned and earned media, as well as developing tools and
research applications. Michael travels the region extensively and now lives half his time in Miami, the other
half at 35,000 feet on an airplane. He is single but married to his mobile phone.
Stephan Bruneau - Global Director, Analytics and Insight
Stephan has over 20 years of marketing and media experience.
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He is the global director of A&I (Analytics & Insight) at MEC. He launched the unit early 2010, which now
counts 300 people across three main areas: Data and technology (small and big data management), Discovery
(research, insight and strategy tools), and Evaluation (measurement, analytics).
Stephan joined MEC in 2004 as the EMEA Regional Director of MediaLab, the agency’s consultancy unit
specialising in consumer insight and return on investment solutions, before being promoted global head in
2007.
Prior to MEC, Stephan was at Accenture’s Marketing Science division in London, where he advised global
companies on ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their marketing investments. He worked
with clients such as BT, Daimler Chrysler, L’Oreal, Cadbury, J&J, Pharmacia, as well as retailers.
Stephan started his career at P&G where he spent 10 years across marketing, media, business analysis and
knowledge management in Paris, Brussels and the US.
Stephen Li - Chief Executive Officer Asia Pacific
Stephen joined MEC in 2005 as CEO for South and South-East Asia and was named CEO for Asia Pacific in
2010.
In addition to operationally overseeing MEC's offices across the region; Stephen is also the senior client leader
for MEC's multinational clients in APAC such as Chevron, Singapore Airlines and Citibank. In 2007 Stephen
launched MEC Access Asia Pacific - the sport, entertainment and cause partnership company.
Together with his management team, he sets the vision for the future of the agency in what is the company's
fastest growing region in the world.
Stephen has a full background working in full-service advertising agencies - including as Managing Director of
Lowe Hong Kong for 4 years, successfully unbundling the Lowe media offering and merging it with the FCB
media department to form Initiative Hong Kong. Prior to joining MEC he was WPP's Regional Director for
Team HSBC.
Over the years Stephen has worked on clients like Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, The Coca-Cola
Company and Alfred Dunhill - but he always tries to leave time for his main passions in life - his wife and 2
children, and Chelsea football club.
Tom George - Chairman, UK and North Europe
In 2005 Tom joined MEC as Managing Director and was promoted to CEO in 2007.
During Tom’s tenure, MEC has quadrupled its billings, rising from 14th to 3rd in the agency rankings, winning
both the biggest media pitches of 2008 and 2009 respectively, Orange and Lloyds Banking Group. MEC have
also recently been rated as the most competitive agency in the UK over the last four years by the independent
agency assessor RECMA.
Under Tom’s stewardship, MEC has also achieved a notable number of firsts – the only agency to win
Marketing’s Agency of the Year for 3 consecutive years, the only agency to win 5 Agency of the Year awards in
one year (2009) and the first media agency to be awarded the highly prestigious IPA Effectiveness Company
of the Year in 2009.
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In 2011 Tom was promoted to Chairman of Northern Europe adding 9 further markets to his UK responsibility
as well as joining the MEC Global Executive Committee.
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