Square in the Air promotes Ben Cleminson to CEO as part of management reshuffle
Marketing firm appoints Ollie Drew as COO and Robin Hutchison as chief commercial officer, with founder Bill Esdaile becoming chairman
Ben Cleminson has been promoted to CEO at Square in the Air as part of a company restructure which has seen founder Bill Esdaile step up to become chair of the marketing agency.
Cleminson, who was the first person to join the company in 2007, will now lead the business on a day-to-day basis as chief executive.
Alongside Cleminson’s promotion, Square in the Air founder and ex-managing director Bill Esdaile has become chair.
Ollie Drew, who joined in 2009 as an account director before being promoted to director in June 2016, is the firm’s new COO and director Robin Hutchison, who arrived from Coral Group in July 2012, has been appointed chief commercial officer (CCO).
The new leadership team will report to Esdaile, who is also City AM’s racing editor.
Having been founded in 2006, Square in the Air now has a team of more than 50 staff based in London, Manchester and New York.
On his new role, Cleminson thanked Esdaile for the opportunity and said it was an honour to be named CEO.
Cleminson shared: “It is almost 17 years to the day when I walked into that small side office in a house not too far from Stoke for my first day at Square in the Air.
“Although we haven’t enjoyed quite the same growth as the nearby bet365, it has been an incredible journey, and I don’t think Bill or I could ever have imagined back then where we’d be today.
“I know both Ollie and Robin would agree with me when I say that Bill has been the most incredible mentor and leader, and personally I am truly honoured to step up into the CEO role.
“We have a brilliant roster of clients and a hugely talented team who push themselves every day to think creatively and strategically, always focused on delivering results. We’ll continue to do that and more,” he added.
Esdaile noted it was the right to time to step into the chairman role and heaped praise on the role Cleminson, Drew and Hutchison have played at the organisation.
He added: “I’ve been extremely lucky to have had the loyalty and support of Ben, Ollie and Robin for over 40 years between them.
“The time is right for me to step into a new role as chairman where I can still strategically be involved but allow the three of them their chance to run the business.
“I’m so grateful for their hard work and dedication, and I look forward to Square in the Air continuing to blossom.”
In April, Square in the Air appointed industry veteran Mark Armitage as director of its newly created performance marketing division.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.