Hill Holliday CEO Karen Kaplan steps down after 41 years at the agency

Hill Holliday CEO Karen Kaplan is stepping down after 10 years in the position and 41 years at the agency. Current Hill Holliday President Chris Wallrapp will assume Kaplan’s role, partnering with Kaplan during a transition period. Kaplan will stay on as Chair Emerita through the end of the year. Wallrapp will retain his title as president in addition to his new role. While Kaplan's future plans were not disclosed, a spokesman for Hill Holiday confirmed that she is not retiring. See America's Hottest Brands 20 brands that are trending in 2023 Click here “All the brilliant people I’ve worked with, whom I now count among my friends, all the iconic work I’ve been so proud to be a part of, the amazing places I’ve been and the things I’ve done have exceeded my wildest, wildest dreams,” said Kaplan. “I owe it all to this place, and especially to our extraordinary founder, Jack Connors, who believed in me from the start and provided me with countless opportunities that enabled me to be successful. It’s been the honor of a lifetime.” Kaplan first joined Interpublic Group of Cos.' Hill Holliday, which was founded in 1968, as a receptionist with no advertising experience. She eventually worked her way up to the chief executive role in 2013. Kaplan worked with clients such as Bank of America, BMW Motorrad and Dunkin’, among others. She has also worked to give women more opportunities at the agency—women now represent over half of the agency’s senior leadership and 65% of all employees, according to the shop. “In 2013, Karen was one of a very small number of women CEOs in our industry,” IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky said in a statement. “Today, over 60% of IPG’s revenue is overseen by women CEOs. Karen is a true trailblazer who showed all of us the path forward, for which we are all grateful. We celebrate her remarkable career at Hill Holliday and her decades of service.” Kaplan called the situation “bittersweet” in the statement, but said now was the right time to hand over the reins to Wallrapp, who has been with Hill Holliday for 13 years. He joined as chief growth officer before being named president. “When my predecessor, Mike Sheehan, became CEO he said he’d serve for 10 years,” Kaplan said in the statement. “He believed that was long enough to accomplish everything he wanted to do and prepare the agency for a future under new leadership, and I have to agree with him." “These are big shoes to fill and I don’t take that lightly,” Wallrapp said. “Karen has been a great mentor, boss, friend and confidant and, as we look ahead, I believe there’s no better tribute to her than to live by her example.”

Hill Holliday CEO Karen Kaplan steps down after 41 years at the agency

Featured Stories