After iris investment, Cheil appoints first global chief growth officer

Cheil Worldwide has appointed Lotta Malm Hallqvist as its first global chief growth officer. Malm Hallqvist joins from McCann Worldgroup where she was executive vice president and global chief growth officer.Malm Hallqvist, who remains based in London, will lead Cheil's international growth and new business drive. She will report to Michael Kim, Cheil Worldwide's global chief operating officer.The appointment to the newly created role is part of Cheil's push to boost global growth and business development. This follows a high-profile investment in independent agency iris late last year, with a view to increase its stake to 100% in five years. (Read also: Cheil Worldwide to invest in iris) Previously, Cheil Worldwide also acquired McKinney and The Barbarian Group (TBG), both in the U.S., and London-based Beattie McGuinness Bungay (BMB).Malm Hallqvist, who founded two start-ups in her early career, was global chief growth officer at McCann for almost four years, based in London. She has worked with the McCann network for close to 15 years.She was global chief growth officer for McCann Worldgroup EMEA from 2003 to 2009. She then spent a year at Mother London running global new business and, after that, rejoined McCann as global chief growth officer.She also co-founded Propaganda, an advertising agency, in 1997, which later sold to McCann. She went on to become managing director of McCann Propaganda in Norway and later the chief executive of McCann Nordic. She started her business career in 1996, launching her own textile company, which she brought to an IPO before she entered the advertising industry.Kim said: "Cheil is at a really important chapter in its history and there is no better time than now to have a new global chief growth officer on board. Lotta, a hugely charismatic, engaging and passionate professional, has helped agencies build growth and drive business development over the past 15 years."She is highly pro-active in her approach to new business and will no doubt entrench this approach at Cheil. I am confident that she will add great value and agility to our new business development efforts, given her understanding of what clients expect from an agency partner. "Malm Hallqvist said: "I am truly impressed with the Korean approach to business - the 'nothing is impossible' attitude and the focus on opportunities over problems. It's a privilege to be part of the next chapter for Cheil, joining the team behind one of the strongest brands on the planet."