LONDON — WE Communications has appointed its first editorial strategist in the UK, Ryan Sketchley, to lead brand and corporate storytelling for clients.

Sketchley joins from Frank where he had been editorial director since 2017. Over his career, including roles at Red, TVC and Thirteen Communications, he has worked with brands such as Red Bull, Whitbread, the UK Department for Transport, and led media relations and content production on the Lloyds TSB sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics.

Reporting to UK director Louise Waller, Sketchley will lead corporate storytelling, messaging, c-suite profiling, media training and crisis communications for WE’s clients in the UK, including Capgemini Group, Intel and Microsoft. He will also lead editorial strategy and corporate content for global brands.

The newly-created role extends the agency’s investment in integrated services for clients, which has grown 25% over the past year, include insights and analytics, social and digital marketing, content strategy and production.

WE’s UK managing director Ruth Allchurch said: “We have a growing global client base and a soaring demand for strategic storytelling out of the UK. We want to construct compelling stories that move people to positive action and we’re thrilled to have someone with Ryan’s experience join us, marking a significant evolution of our corporate reputation and editorial capabilities in the UK.”

Sketchley added: “WE is a global, purpose-driven independent agency with a fantastic reputation in the market, so the chance to join them in a newly-created editorial role was too good to turn down. I'm looking forward to working with Ruth, the leadership team and WE’s clients to develop compelling campaigns that cross multiple international markets.”