Slingshot promotes Simon Corbett into chief innovation officer role; launches new department

Following the continued investment into senior hires such as Rob Wall as head of client service and trading and Chris Johnston as head of digital and data, Slingshot is now turning some of its focus inward.

Slingshot partner and formerly chief of strategy Simon Corbett is moving into the role of chief innovation officer to help the agency accelerate the development of new products and services that allow the agency to tangibly demonstrate creativity and innovation to clients.

Says Corbett: “Generally speaking agencies are terrible at walking the walk when it comes to creativity and innovation in their own business. One of the most significant causes for frustration and dissatisfaction between a client and their agency is that the agency talks a good game but rarely can back it up. We stand in front of clients and tell them to be bolder, more creative with ideas. But how often can we show them examples of when we have done the same in our own business?”

One of the first major changes within the agency has been the creation of a new Social & Content department. Headed up by Tania Ferguson (previously at Leo Burnett) as content strategist and with the addition of Catalina Beltran (previously King Content) as social media manager, this newly formed team greatly expands the agency’s abilities to take clients into previously unexplored areas.

Says Corbett: “We take our responsibilities to clients very seriously as an agency. Our clients rely on us being able to not just reach and engage consumers but also ultimately help to influence them. So it is vitally important for us that we are able to find more interesting and innovative ways for our clients to spend more time with their consumers. Tania and the team are leading how we do that.”

(Pictured L-R: Tania Ferguson, Simon Corbett, Catalina Beltran)