Identity has announced key changes to its leadership
team as it takes aim at further expansion and growth. The agency that
delivered COP26 completed the reshuffle alongside a number of new board
level appointments.
Identity’s
founder, Michael Gietzen, steps away from the role of MD to become
Identity’s first CEO. In tandem with this move Paul Fitzpatrick,
who has been with Identity since its inception, takes the helm of the agency as
its new MD.
For Gietzen, who
has served as the face of Identity since 2010, the move to the newly created CEO
position allows him to focus on developing Identity’s worldwide reputation and
steering its global growth strategy. This will encompass organic international
expansion as well as identifying acquisition opportunities.
Fitzpatrick is the
natural successor for the MD role, having been Identity’s operations director
for eight years, and best placed to direct the agency’s ambitious short and
medium-term strategy. Supporting him is a highly accomplished executive team
spanning commercial, project delivery, operations, finance, and people & culture
functions.
Janet Dodd, a stalwart on the board, takes on the role
of chief strategy officer where her considerable experience of client
relationships and high-profile projects will help direct sustainable growth.
Joining the board of directors is Simon Dunnell. Dunnell joined
Identity in 2020 and brings international experience to the agency’s
worldwide project delivery capability.
Former finance
director Mike Prior moves to the newly created role of mergers
and acquisitions director, while Kal Bhadresa joins Identity
as its new finance director. Championing Identity’s people-first
approach, Mary Carter-Lee remains in the role of people
& culture director.
CEO Michael
Gietzen said: “To steer the agency through this new era of global events we
have evolved our leadership team. The new opportunities created for this
team allow me to take a step back from day-to-day operations to focus on
extending the scope and global growth of the agency. Central to this is the
role of MD, with Paul taking the reins supported by a powerhouse leadership
team that I am confident will continue Identity’s success.”
MD Paul
Fitzpatrick said: “Identity is evolving and adapting to new market conditions.
Having successfully navigated the pandemic, we have now created an enhanced leadership
team of incredibly talented individuals that are poised to embrace the exciting
challenges and opportunities of the global events industry.”
The changes follow
a year of skyrocketing success for Identity that included a FT ranking as
one of the fastest growing companies in Europe, the delivery of
COP26 in Glasgow plus attracting a myriad of new clients to include Unilever,
Netflix, the UK Space Agency and Shell.
