ST. LOUIS — Less than two months into his tenure, FleishmanHillard president and CEO J.J. Carter has unveiled a streamlined leadership team as part of a multi-phase plan to drive agency transformation.

The new leadership appointments are as follows:

  • Lisa Moehlenkamp, chief operating officer: Moehlenkamp will oversee global operations to enhance efficiency and impact, collaborating with Carter and Omnicom partners. She has been with FleishmanHillard for more than 25 years, previously serving as chief of staff and chief talent officer.

  • Emily Frager, chief client officer: Frager will lead commercial efforts for top clients, ensuring excellence in modern communications. Currently the general manager of the Southern California operations, Frager rejoined FleishmanHillard in 2016 after serving as chief marketing officer at Lennar Ventures.

  • Mitch Germann, chief business development and brand officer: Germann will head the agency’s business development and oversee brand and marketing initiatives. Previously, he was the global managing director for the retail, sports, and lifestyle sector and held leadership roles at Nike and Jordan Brand.

  • Ephraim Cohen, global head of data and digital: Cohen will focus on expanding enterprise-wide adoption of AI and digital platforms, including generative AI. He currently leads media & platforms and is a former general manager of FleishmanHillard New York.

  • Faith Howe, chief of staff: Howe will manage global talent initiatives, emphasizing leadership development and organizational strategy. She has been with the agency for 11 years and previously led the talent and transformation practice.

  • Mark Mortell, global head of practices and sectors: Mortell will enhance expertise across industry sectors, including health, technology, retail, and financial services, manufacturing and energy, government and public sector, and food, agriculture and beverage. He joined the agency in 2002 after leadership roles at Aer Lingus and the Bank of Ireland.

This team marks a key step in Carter’s vision to advance FleishmanHillard’s capabilities and client offerings globally.

Changes include eliminating co-leadership roles to emphasize individual accountability and more hands-on management, Carter said. Frager and Mortell, now chief client officer and global head of practices and sectors respectively, had previously shared responsibility for global client experience.

The “simplified” structure also puts new focus on industry expertise and brings together “a mix of experience and fresh perspectives at the leadership level,” Carter said. There were no job losses connected to the changes.

“I view these moves as affirming a direction that the agency has been on for the last 12 to 18 months,” Carter said. “We are bringing forward our point of view in modern communications. This is the team that is going to give them some shape and specificity, and we will be bringing that to the agency first.”

The leadership changes come roughly two weeks after the promotion of longtime leader Della Sweetman to president, Americas, and chief strategy officer.

Carter, who joined FleishmanHillard in 2005, spent roughly eight years as the agency’s global chief operating officer and Americas president before succeeding John Saunders as president and CEO on October 1.