The Union has announced that Kyle Hardie has been promoted to the role of managing director and Ian McAteer, who has held the role of MD since 1996, becomes chairman of the agency.
The move follows Hardie’s promotion to the agency’s board of directors in 2011 and at that time taking on the role of deputy managing director. As MD he will be responsible for day-to-day running of the business as well as heading up the agency’s account management team and leading on some of the agency’s key clients.
Hardie has been with The Union since 2007, when he set up the agency’s sales promotion and experiential marketing business, Union Connect, which has since developed into a successful agency with clients such as Weir Group, Whyte & Mackay, Scottish Government, Matthew Algie and VisitScotland.
McAteer will remain active with day-to-day involvement in both The Union and other Union group companies; he will maintain a hands-on role with key agency clients and business development. Of Hardie’s promotion he said: “The Union will be 18 years old this year. Refreshing the management team is an important issue for any business and the board are confident that Kyle is the right person to help take us forward.
“The founding directors continue to be actively involved in the agency, but with both Kyle Hardie and also Michael Hart now on the board we have the right blend of experience and expertise to face the challenges ahead.”
Hardie added: “When Ian asked me if I was up for this my response was immediate. Leading one of Scotland’s top creative agencies is an opportunity anyone would want. Since joining up with Ian, Andrew and Mark in 2007 it’s been a fantastic journey – but this gives me a whole new set of exciting challenges.”
The Union’s creative director Michael Hart has taken over key leadership responsibilities in the agency’s creative department. Andrew Lindsay, executive creative director and a founder of The Union, will remain involved in the agency’s creative output and will work with Hart to develop the department as well as working directly with key clients.
Lindsay commented: “We have been planning the evolution of our creative management for quite a while and having Michael running the creative department is good news for the agency – the strength of our creative product remains fundamental to The Union’s success.”
Hart said he was “delighted to have the opportunity to take the creative department forward,” adding, “These may be challenging times, but it is also a good time for the industry.”