Christine Scott has joined Toronto agency doug&partners as managing director. Agency founder and CEO Doug Robinson said that Scott brings a wealth of experience to the role, both in terms of agency leadership and as a strategic partner to a number of large brands in Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Singapore.

That strategic experience was essential in terms of where Robinson wants to grow the agency. “We are swimming more upstream with our clients,” he said. The nearly 20-year old agency has long had a reputation for its creative, but has been shifting to focus more on strategy, business solutions and brand launches (and relaunches).

Hiring Scott was about adding “a little more bench strength at that senior level for the C-suite,” he said. “It’s great doing the creative, it’s better when you’re building the insights and observations, and  making recommendations to build the creative strategy.”

“I was first drawn to d&p by the strength of their strategy and creative, and the agency’s partnership position with their clients,” said Scott in a release. “But I was totally won over by the energy and drive of the team… I am excited to be part of an agency that lives by an inclusive, collaborative, sky’s the limit approach to winning.”

Until November, Scott has been VP of integrated marketing communications at Community. Prior to that, she was vice-president of experiential events and marketing at Citizen Relations. Her career has included work on brands including Peloton, Samsung, Shopify, Casper Mattresses, Canadian Tire, Nestlé, Porsche, P&G, Loblaws, BMO and the Detroit Pistons.

The managing director position at doug&partners had been vacant since Caroline Kilgour left to join Lifelong Crush in November. Hiring Scott to help with day-to-day management of the agency will also be essential to growing the agency, said Robinson.

“It’s a position that’s very important in the company,” he said. “It will allow me to focus a little more in certain areas that I want to spend a more time in: new business and creative product… I found myself drifting a little bit from that because you’re running an agency.”

Scott officially started with the 40-person agency on Monday.