Octagon Rolls Out New European Leadership Team

Sports and marketing agency Octagon has revealed a newly structured European leadership team in response to a year of growth and development of the agency’s creative offerings. 

In new roles, Executive Vice President Sebastian Smith will now lead all marketing and business development across the European region, and 11-year agency veteran Joel Seymour-Hyde will head the agency’s UK business. 

“The leadership, relentless drive and industry expertise that Sebastian and Joel have demonstrated has been vital to the growth of the agency in the UK and across the region,” said Jeff Ehrenkranz, President Octagon Marketing International. “Joel and Sebastian have been at the forefront of a drive to build our creative offering and deliver work that earns attention for our clients.” 

Smith and Seymour-Hyde are part of a European leadership team led by Ehrenkranz that also includes European Creative Director Josh Green, MD Global Football Phil Carling, German Head Karsten Petry, Spain Head David Serrahima, HR & Culture Head Dipti Shah and recently hired UK Head Client Services Liza Durge. 

In his new role, Smith will focus on growing the agency’s brand and business across Europe, workingbwith market heads in the UK, Germany, Spain and France. Additionally, he will continue to be responsible for the agency’s multi-market clients including Octagon’s relationships with Shell, Foot Locker and CA Technologies. 

Seymour-Hyde will move from his role leading the agency’s strategy offering to take responsibility for day-to-day management of the UK business. He will maintain his account leadership role on Octagon UK clients Mars and Sony Mobile and work with Durge to grow the agency’s relationship with its roster of UK clients.