Weber Shandwick Appoints New London Managing Director

Weber Shandwick has announced the appointment of Helen Bennett as the new managing director of its London office, following the promotion of its former MD, Rachel Friend as the UK & Ireland CEO role in January 2018.

Bennett was promoted from her current role as the agency’s global client experience lead.

The management shakeup took place after the departure of the agency's UK chair of consumer marketing Emma Thompson in March.

Bennett, who has been with Weber Shandwick for 12 years, will help to oversee the London operation’s investment in talent and will continue to drive client-led integration across practices, specialisms and partners.

She will report to Friend, who said: “It’s the right time to appoint new leadership in our London office to sustain the progress we’ve made in recent years, and Helen is a consummate strategist and leader who will fill this role exceedingly well.”

Weber Shandwick’s London operation has seen five years of consecutive growth, including expanding capabilities through the acquisitions of Flipside in 2016 and That Lot in 2018, and new offerings the X Practice (technology, digital and analytics) and United Minds (management consulting).