Observed Signal · Sep 21, 2026 · Hiring · Source: Adweek · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Folklore Hires Colle McVoy President as CEO
Obele Brown-West, former president of Colle McVoy, has joined independent creative agency Folklore as CEO and partner. She will work alongside founder and COO Mike Matheny to shape the agency's future and oversee business operations. Brown-West's appointment follows her extensive feedback on Folklore's creative approach, which impressed Matheny. The move signals a strategic leadership change for Folklore as it looks to evolve.
Leadership change at a creative agency, relevant to AdTech/MarTech but modest industry impact.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Obele Brown-West was appointed CEO and partner at Folklore.
- She previously served as president of Colle McVoy.
- She will work with founder and COO Mike Matheny to guide the agency's future.
- Her feedback was processed into agency change.
- The article was published on September 21, 2026.
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Mariana O’Kelly, previously executive creative director at Leo Burnett, has been appointed as the first chief creative officer of DonerColle Partners, the newly formed partnership between Doner and Colle McVoy under the Stagwell umbrella. O’Kelly will set the creative vision for the combined entity and will work alongside CEO Jessica Henrichs. The hire follows DonerColle Partners’ recent account win for Hershey’s salty snacks portfolio, which leadership cited as validation of the new structure. The appointment is positioned to unite creative leadership across the two agencies while they retain separate teams and clients.
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