FCB Inferno announces Katy Wright promoted to Managing Director

Maggie Hanson Business, Creativity, Marketing

FCB Inferno today announced the promotion of Katy Wright to Managing Director. She will be joining Chief Creative Officer Owen Lee leading FCB Inferno along with Ben Jaffé, Head of Strategy; and Sharon Jiggins,Chief Marketing Officer

Wright, who became head of Account Management two years ago, has been instrumental in winning and leading key accounts including Valspar, BMW and  Kimberly-Clark brands Andrex and Kleenex. Alongside this, she has played an  integral role in driving the training and development programme for the agency. 

“I have always seen creativity as a team sport, and I’m a big fan of working as a team. Being part of the new leadership alongside Owen’s exceptional creativity, Ben’s strategic acumen, and Sharon’s understanding of commercial purpose is an exciting and welcome challenge,” commented Wright. 

Frazer Gibney, who founded the agency over 20 years ago, is taking on an advisory chairman role while also working on global special projects with FCB Worldwide CEO Carter Murray. 

Gibney said: “I am incredibly proud that we have a highly qualified and deep bench of talent that contributed to a successful succession plan.” 

Before joining FCB Inferno nine years ago, Owen Lee was one of the founders and the Creative Chairman of Farm Communications, a top-50 UK advertising agency. Since being made Chief Creative Officer of FCB Inferno, the agency has become known for innovative and award-winning creative platforms such as This Girl Can, the Big Issue and Monzo Pay It Forward collaboration, and Huawei’s StorySign.  

Ben Jaffé joined FCB Inferno in 2012. With a reputation for method planning, he is an expert in global and pan-European brand communications, with extensive experience in communications planning and brand journeys. His work has covered clients such as BMW and brands within the Kimberly-Clark portfolio.   

Leading the creation and development of Sport England’s multi-award-winning This Girl Can, Sharon Jiggins is known for creative work that makes a positive impact on culture and society, from tackling sensitive topics such as female genital mutilation, domestic violence and forced marriage for the Home Office, through to reframing rescue animals as the nation’s favourite breed for Battersea Dogs & Cats.  

The agency had its most awarded year ever in 2019/20, culminating in FCB Inferno being named the second most awarded agency in Europe and the eighth globally. 

FCB Worldwide CEO Carter Murray said, “The multifaceted leadership team of Owen, Katy, Sharon and Ben will expand Inferno’s capabilities further and drive forward and build on the agency’s momentum.” 

FCB Inferno is one of London’s leading advertising agencies, and part of global advertising network FCB. The network dates back to 1873, and now has more than 8,000 employees in 80 countries, with 100 employees at FCB Inferno. The agency’s clients sit across industry sectors and currently include Sport England, BMW, Kimberly-Clark, the Home Office and the Premier League.

FCB Inferno was voted Agency of the Year at the inaugural Campaigns for Good awards. Over the past 4 years, Inferno has been recognised at Cannes International Festival of Creativity in categories including Film, Social and Influencer, Mobile, Digital Craft and Brand Experience, receiving two Grand Prix awards in 2015 and 2016, and was the second most awarded European agency – and eighth in the world – at the festival in 2019.