NEW YORK — Marina Maher Communications (MMC) has hired MSL's Rema Vasan to the role of EVP and chief innovation officer, the Holmes Report can reveal.

Vasan departs the Publicis Groupe firm after more than three years, during which she led the global P&G relationship and, more recently, added oversight of its influencer marketing offering.

Reporting to founder and CEO Marina Maher, Vasan takes on a newly-created position that includes direct leadership of MMC's corporate brand and brand engagement practices, along with creating a new consumer tech group.

"Rema has the diverse background to meet the needs and challenges of a next-generation communications firm," Maher told the Holmes Report, pointing to Vasan's background across advertising and digital. "I think she is perfect for the future of MMC and that’s really important to me."
 
Vasan told Holmes Report that while she appreciated her time and experience at MSL, she was drawn to MMC by its "entrepreneurial drive" and the agency being "in a constant state of beta."

"My aspiration is not to keep pace but to stay ahead," Vasan said. "The innovation and the ethos of MMC are a perfect fit with my expertise and vision for the future."

Vasan's arrival at MMC in mid-June follows the November departure of chief integration officer Diana Littman, who moved in the opposite direction to become US CEO of MSL. Since then, MMC has also made senior hires to its brand engagement, corporate and healthcare engagement groups, while also losing chief digital officer David Richeson.  

"We’re not actually replacing that position," said Maher of the chief integration role. "We believe we’re pretty operationalised now as an integrated agency."

Maher also sidestepped the question of whether Vasan is a potential successor to the longtime leader. "I don’t have plans to retire anytime soon," she said. "But I do see her as a key agency leader."

Prior to MSL, Vasan was director of global digital strategy at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and also worked as SVP and global digital group account director at Publicis.

"Rema is an incredible talent," said Littman. "We're sorry to see her leave and wish her every success in the future."