NEW YORK — MikeWorldWide has named chief people officer Gina Cherwin the firm’s first chief operating officer.

Cherwin will continue to oversee talent strategy while adding all international operations, resource planning and forecasting, real estate and facilities management, and acquisition integrations to her responsibilities. She also will continue to serve on the firm's executive committee, responsible for establishing policies that promote company culture and vision through operations to maximize growth and profitability while managing risk.

Cherwin has served as executive VP and CPO since 2016, three years after joining MWW. She was instrumental in leading the agency through the pandemic and the transition to remote and hybrid work. Cherwin has also been the executive sponsor of MikeWorldWide's DEI efforts and spearheaded the development of the firm's benefits, which include 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all parents, unlimited PTO, and free online therapy for all employees and dependents.

"Soon after Gina joined MikeWorldWide, she became a heartbeat of our agency and an incredible champion for our culture. Many organizations talk about its importance, but Gina has successfully operationalized our culture, elevating our purpose and values to a strategic function and a competitive differentiator," said founder and CEO Michael Kempner. "Gina and I will continue to collaborate to ensure that our people remain at the center of our decision-making and reinforce our position as the agency where top talent and top brands want to be."