Saatchi & Saatchi getting a new leader

Shopper marketing firm Saatchi & Saatchi X has promoted one of its senior executives to be its next president.

Jessica Hendrix has been named president ofSaatchi & Saatchi X, fillinga position previously held by Dina Howell, who is retiring.Hendrix joined the firm in 2007 and most recently was senior vice president of account leadership. Howell will stay with the firm through the management transition.

Howelljoined the firm in 2010 after taking over for founder Andy Murray. She had worked for Procter & Gamble Co. for 22 years.

“Saatchi & Saatchi X will move forward with US leadership that has proven talent, high energy to match the pace of retail, extensive experience in brand management, depth in shopper marketing and advertising, and a strong mix of creativity and analytics,” says Saatchi Worldwide CEO Robert Senior. “Saatchi & Saatchi X is a strategically vital part of our USA and global business.”

Saatchi & Saatchi X won more than 125 shopper marketing awards during Howell's tenure. Most of the awards were for projects done for Walmart and Procter & Gamble.

Dina Howell pioneered the field of Shopper Marketing during her 22-year career at Procter & Gamble and joined Saatchi & Saatchi X after retiring from P&G to continue her vision and leadership in the shopper space. Dina serves on the executive advisory board for the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas; the executive board for the Center for Retailing Excellence at the University of Arkansas; and is a visiting professor in the graduate marketing program.

Howell said: “I have been honored to serve as CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi X, it has been an amazing adventure. Saatchi & Saatchi will always be my Lovemark and I will always be a strong advocate of the great work done by the women and men of this company.”