International B2B marketing specialist Fifth Ring has announced a key leadership appointment as part of its strategy to accelerate growth in the coming year.
Jennifer Maclennan, who has been with the company for eight years, has been promoted to the newly created position of Group Managing Director.
Maclennan, previously the Regional Director for Europe, has played a central role in driving strategic initiatives at Fifth Ring. Her leadership has been crucial in managing recruitment efforts, expanding operations, and building strong client relationships. In her new role, Maclennan will take charge of all operational activities across the company, which is headquartered in Aberdeen with offices in Singapore and Houston. The appointment reflects Fifth Ring’s commitment to sustaining its growth trajectory and exploring further opportunities for expansion into new markets.
Founder Ian Ord will now focus on international revenue growth, acquisitions, and global expansion, while Steve Milne, Group Director of Strategy, will continue overseeing brand projects and strategy for clients on a global scale.
Maclennan expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, saying: “I am truly honoured to take on this exciting new role and continue my journey with Fifth Ring. In my new role, I will continue to maintain and enhance positive client relationships, whilst taking on new operational challenges and ensuring Fifth Ring owns the space in global B2B marketing.”
She also acknowledged the contributions of her colleagues, noting that she looks forward to working with Ian Ord, Steve Milne, and Regional Directors Debbie Ho (Asia) and Todd Gregory (America) to drive the company’s growth and support its talented team.
Internal Promotions and Focus on Growth
The announcement of Maclennan’s promotion follows other recent leadership changes at Fifth Ring, including Sarah Gray’s appointment as Head of Client Services and Dr Chloe Hodge’s promotion to Head of Brand. These moves also highlight the agency’s ongoing focus on strengthening its leadership team to support future business opportunities and client needs.
Ian Ord, founder of Fifth Ring, highlighted the importance of these changes as the company continues to grow and evolve. “We’ve enjoyed spectacular growth over the past few years, and as our business becomes more complex, we recognised the need to expand our senior team. Jennifer’s promotion will increase our leadership bandwidth, ensuring we can continue building on our success,” said Ord. He also emphasised the company’s commitment to attracting new talent and diversifying its client portfolio as part of its international expansion strategy, both organically and through acquisitions.
In addition to her role as Group Managing Director, Maclennan will maintain her board position with Business Branding Network (BBN), an international B2B agency partnership. Her work with BBN aims to strengthen global collaborations and unify the agency’s presence in key markets.
Recognition and Future Prospects
Fifth Ring has recently earned notable industry recognition. The agency was named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Advertising, Media & Marketing for 2024, a prestigious accolade highlighting the company’s positive workplace culture. This follows Fifth Ring’s earlier achievement of Great Place to Work® certification, which acknowledged its commitment to employee development and fostering a supportive work environment.
These honours coincide with Fifth Ring’s recognition in the B2B marketing world. The agency was listed in the top 20 of the world’s largest UK-headquartered B2B marketing agencies by B2B Marketing and is also currently shortlisted for Global Agency of the Year at the upcoming B2B Marketing Awards. The award winners will be announced in late November.
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