SAN FRANCISCO: Fenton has hired former Waggener Edstrom Worldwide executive Jean-Louis Robadey as MD of the West Coast.
Robadey started in the role last Thursday. He is overseeing client services, staff, and new business development for Fenton's West Coast branches. Robadey has also joined Fenton's executive team, helping to strengthen and grow its San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, and London offices, he said.
Robadey is based in San Francisco, reporting to CEO David Fenton. He has replaced 12-year agency veteran Parker Blackman, who most recently served as COO and West Coast MD at the firm. Blackman will continue to work at Fenton as a senior adviser.
Fenton has 18 staffers in San Francisco and four in Los Angeles. The firm's West Coast business focuses on sustainability, clean technology, and the role tech companies play in social innovation, he added. Robadey said he will also explore new business opportunities in the Pacific Northwest.
Prior to joining Fenton, Robadey was an SVP for three years at WE, where he launched and led the agency's Social Innovation practice. He has also served as CEO of the Pact Institute, an organization that develops social programs, as well as VP of strategic management at its parent organization, Pact Inc. He led strategic planning, marketing communications, and new business development at Pact Inc.
“Most of my career has been at the intersection of social change, social innovation, and leveraging communications to increase the impact of programs. Fenton is a leader in affecting social change through innovative, creative communications, so for me it's a very natural alignment,” Robadey said. “One of the challenges will be to continue building on those assets and developing tools and approaches to demonstrate to clients across sectors how communications can support those efforts.”
Fenton hired Beth Kitzinger as MD of New York in September and Kalee Kreider as MD of Washington DC in June. The firm opened its first London office last year.
