Fast-growing
independent
agency O’Keefe
Reinhard & Paul
also adds new
finance head
Fast-growing independent creative agency O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul has elevated four senior employees to new expanded roles as it deepens the ranks of its leadership.
Rahul Roy will take on the new role of Chief Operating Officer at OKRP where he will have responsibility for both the agency business and operations. He was previously head of client business. Rahul joined OKRP in 2015 and has worked in the advertising industry for over 20 years, holding senior level roles at FCB and JWT. He began his advertising career at McCann Erikson in India.
Taking on the role of Head of Client Business with responsibility for overseeing the agency’s client services teams is Brenda Donahue. Brenda was previously client management director at OKRP, overseeing the agency’s Illinois Lottery account. She joined OKRP in early 2018 after spending 10 years at Downtown Partners. She has also worked at VSA Partners, the Richards Group and Leo Burnett, among others.
Longtime OKRP employee Sue Gillan is taking on the role of Chief Talent Officer. This is a new position at OKRP that incorporates HR, recruitment and training. Sue joined OKRP as one of its first employees working as a creative director. Over the years she developed a strong interest in all areas of talent development She is also an alumna of Chicago’s Second City and lends her improv and comedic skills to the agency on a daily basis.
Nate Swift is taking on the new role of Chief Strategy Officer after serving as head of brand strategy at OKRP. He has worked at OKRP for over six years, joining the agency in 2013 as a brand strategist from David&Goliath. He also previously worked at DDB Worldwide.
In addition to these promotions, OKRP has hired Avigail Schlosser as its first in-house controller. With 15+ years in tech and media finance, Avigail will oversee the agency’s financial functions. She previously worked with startup gogo and Shiftgig and at larger multinational companies including Publicis Groupe.
“Rahul, Sue, Brenda and Nate have positively influenced our agency in every way imaginable, so it’s only natural that their roles expand as we continue to grow,” said Tom O’Keefe. “They make us a better agency, and we couldn’t be more excited about our future under their leadership.”
About OKRP
Chicago-based OKRP, named by Advertising Ag as a 2019 “A-List Standout Agency” and a 2018 “Agency to Watch,” is a new model advertising agency that delivers big brand creativity with start-up ingenuity. With its belief that success as a new model agency relies on the ability to be nimble and to bring together the best talent for its clients, O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul has practiced the “high art of selling” on behalf of clients such as Chili’s, Groupon, Illinois Lottery, the Illinois Office of Tourism, YUM! Brands and Ace Hardware among others.
Photo above, left to right: Nate Swift, Sue Gillan, Brenda Donahue, Avigail Schlosser and Rahul Roy.
Send your staff updates to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
