Ogilvy's Marie-Claire Barker joins MEC as chief talent officer

MEC has appointed Marie-Claire Barker as its first global chief talent officer. Barker joins from the Ogilvy Group, where for the past six years she has been chief talent officer, responsible for driving and delivering talent strategy for their 22,000 staff, globally. She will work with the agency’s global CEO Charles Courtier, the company’s global Executive Committee, discipline leaders and People and Culture teams around the world, to deliver a consistent talent strategy and approach to how MEC attracts, evaluates, motivates and grows their people. The goal is for MEC to be the company of choice for talented individuals who want a challenging, rewarding and exciting career in the marketing industry.Commenting on the appointment, Barker said: “I want to be in a business with a palpable culture. MEC’s talent manifesto, which encourages each employee to thrive within the context of work, is something that really intrigues me. "I have a strong desire to change the face of talent management in our industry, so operating in an environment that encourages uniqueness and innovation in a culture where employees feel there are no barriers to reaching their potential is what has drawn me to MEC.”Courtier added: “Talent is the single most important ingredient to the future success of MEC.""Marie-Claire has an absolute passion for the growth and development of people, and I know that she’s looking forward to working with MEC leaders to drive a culture where each employee is able to contribute in a meaningful way to improve business results, and reach their own personal potential. "This is why MEC appealed to her, and why under her leadership and experience we’ll be able to truly thrive as a company.”