Exclusive: James Denton-Clark takes charge of Stagwell Europe
Exclusive
Stagwell has made James Denton-Clark its European lead, handing him responsibility for the network’s operations across the region.
Denton-Clark, who keeps his title of chief growth and client officer at Stagwell Europe, takes on the remit previously held by James Townsend (who has moved to become CEO of MSQ). He will work across Stagwell’s agencies and capabilities in Europe to accelerate growth, strengthen client partnerships and advance the network’s integrated offering.
Speaking exclusively to The Media Leader, Denton-Clark said: “It’s an expanded role. The aperture has changed, but underneath, it’s the same. It’s putting everything together to help our clients grow.”
The move follows the launch of Stagwell Media, the network’s new global media agency built on Assembly, and the appointment of Nagmeh Taheri as chief growth officer, media and commerce for Stagwell Europe.
Why Stagwell launched Stagwell Media – with Slavi Samardzija
Stagwell’s recent European wins include Forsman & Bodenfors’ appointment to Allwyn’s global creative account, Stagwell Italy’s win of Haier’s European creative business, and Goodstuff and Forsman & Bodenfors securing UK housing fintech OneDome’s integrated agency remit.
The UK delivered double-digit growth in Q2. Stagwell chairman and CEO Mark Penn told The Media Leader last month that UK net organic revenue grew 10.7% in H1.
Penn said: “Denton-Clark has played a pivotal role in accelerating Stagwell’s growth across Europe, helping bring the full breadth of our capabilities to clients and strengthening our position in one of our most important markets.
Europe is the second-biggest market
Denton-Clark said global marketers often see Europe as a difficult region because it is highly regulated and spans 23 languages.
“But I’ve always been of the view that Europe is the second biggest market. It’s in growth,” he said. “But the money isn’t as visible because it’s going into tech-first infrastructure deals.”
He said the region’s performance would bring more investment from Stagwell’s US parent: “Mark came over and said: ‘Europe’s great, it’s working, it’s powering in. We’re going to pile everything into it.’”
Asked about the European acquisitions Penn trailed in his interview with The Media Leader, Denton-Clark said: “Stagwell’s share price is doing well, so therefore, we are likely to be acquisitive”.
Goodstuff and Stagwell Media: “different front doors”
Asked how Goodstuff fits alongside Stagwell Media in UK pitches, Denton-Clark said: “Mostly at the moment it’s both. There are a couple of different front doors. Most of the pitches actually involve Stagwell Media and Goodstuff working in conjunction, usually with a whole load of technology layer underneath.”
He said Stagwell Media “was never a full roll-up” and described the two agencies as “complementary”. Slavi Samardzija, Stagwell’s global chair, media and commerce, used the same term in his interview with The Media Leader.
Taking on Havas
Havas has historically been seen as the fourth holding company in Europe. Denton-Clark said Stagwell’s challenge there is partly about awareness, because it is relatively new and is mostly seen as a US business. He argued it is “a genuinely different offer” from the holding groups.
“We don’t need an office in every single country. That’s the old model, the old playbook,” he said. “You need centres of excellence. You get the right people at the right price at the right place.”
He also pointed to Stagwell AI, which brings the network’s AI capabilities together, and to deals that sell software licences with services attached. “We build it, whereas everyone else is buying it or renting it,” he said.
A new approach?
Denton-Clark described his leadership approach as “very collaborative, open and transparent”, adding that he has never run his agencies on “that whole command and control system”.