Longtime Canadian media executive Alexandra Panousis has joined Vancouver-based "creative experience" agency Thinkingbox as its first-ever chief growth officer, with a mandate to raise its profile among the industry and prospective clients.
While the 13-year-old agency boasts a roster of blue-chip clients including Adobe, Riot Games, IKEA, Verizon and Starbucks, and this year scooped awards at both the
While the 13-year-old agency boasts a roster of blue-chip clients including Adobe, Riot Games, IKEA, Verizon and Starbucks, and this year scooped awards at both the
Webby's and Clios, Panousis described it as "the best agency that most people in Canada have never heard of."
She stressed that her mandate is to help the agency achieve its growth targets while continuing to produce the bold and innovative work upon which it has built its reputation.
"This is not an agency that needs transformation, this is an agency that needs the spotlight shone on it," said Panousis. "So I'm going to do my best to do that."
She ascribed Thinkingbox's under-the-radar reputation in part to its founder and CEO Amar Sahba, a former 30 under 30 winner who has overseen the agency's growth from a rented office in Vancouver in 2010, to about 125 people spread across offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, and Salt Lake City.
"He's not pounding on his chest and getting on the speaker circuit, but he should be getting more of that," said Panousis of Sahba. "When I looked at what his company was delivering and the work [it's producing], I was super-excited about the possibilities. So we're taking a shot."
While acknowledging that achieving growth is "harder than ever" in today's marketing environment, she said the agency's capabilities—particularly around areas like digital implementation—make it a perfect candidate to succeed.
Panousis' 25-year career has been varied, including recent roles at business transformation company Valtech and media agency roles with Dentsu Media Canada, Havas and Publicis Media. She has also held branding and sales roles with media brands including the National Post and CBC, and has more recently explored tech-focused roles with companies including Sampler and early-stage venture capital firm Antler.
"I've had an interesting career, and this allows me to bring it full-circle," she said of her role with Thinkingbox. "I've had creative opportunities, media opportunities, commerce opportunities, and this gives me a bit of a platform to really roll up my sleeves and help."
In a release, Sahba said that Panousis' experience and expertise will be "pivotal" in identifying new opportunities, fostering innovative approaches, and ensuring that Thinkingbox is "ahead of the curve and top-of-mind" for the industry and prospective clients.
She stressed that her mandate is to help the agency achieve its growth targets while continuing to produce the bold and innovative work upon which it has built its reputation.
"This is not an agency that needs transformation, this is an agency that needs the spotlight shone on it," said Panousis. "So I'm going to do my best to do that."
She ascribed Thinkingbox's under-the-radar reputation in part to its founder and CEO Amar Sahba, a former 30 under 30 winner who has overseen the agency's growth from a rented office in Vancouver in 2010, to about 125 people spread across offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, and Salt Lake City.
"He's not pounding on his chest and getting on the speaker circuit, but he should be getting more of that," said Panousis of Sahba. "When I looked at what his company was delivering and the work [it's producing], I was super-excited about the possibilities. So we're taking a shot."
While acknowledging that achieving growth is "harder than ever" in today's marketing environment, she said the agency's capabilities—particularly around areas like digital implementation—make it a perfect candidate to succeed.
Panousis' 25-year career has been varied, including recent roles at business transformation company Valtech and media agency roles with Dentsu Media Canada, Havas and Publicis Media. She has also held branding and sales roles with media brands including the National Post and CBC, and has more recently explored tech-focused roles with companies including Sampler and early-stage venture capital firm Antler.
"I've had an interesting career, and this allows me to bring it full-circle," she said of her role with Thinkingbox. "I've had creative opportunities, media opportunities, commerce opportunities, and this gives me a bit of a platform to really roll up my sleeves and help."
In a release, Sahba said that Panousis' experience and expertise will be "pivotal" in identifying new opportunities, fostering innovative approaches, and ensuring that Thinkingbox is "ahead of the curve and top-of-mind" for the industry and prospective clients.
