Wavemaker’s newly appointed Regional Managing Director Emma Slater on how the new Manchester base will act as a “springboard” for the region and why she is excited for Wavemaker’s next phase outside of London.
As Wavemaker North’s CEO Mick Style announced he is departing the agency in May, Emma Slater has taken over the reins as Regional Managing Director and has big plans for the agency outside of London.
“He’s been by my side all that time. I wouldn’t be where I am today without having worked with him,” she told Prolific North.
Despite being at the agency for 25 years, Emma is just one of a number of long-term staffers at the agency – but she hasn’t been tempted to seek pastures new for one key reason.
“The agency has never stood still. It’s always been something different so I don’t feel like I’ve worked for the same agency for all that time,” she said.
She has held various high-ranking roles through the agency’s changes, including through the merger of MEC and Maxus which led to the formation of WPP-owned Wavemaker in 2017.
As she plans to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary in two weeks, she jokingly remarked: “Not only have I been at Wavemaker for 25 years, I’ve been married for 25 years and been in the same house and district for 25 years – so maybe I’m just not open to change. Maybe that’s it!”
Born and raised in Yorkshire, she proudly explained how she is a “Yorkshire girl” but has spent more time in Manchester having been at university in the city as well as marrying a Mancunian, much to her father’s “distress”.
“He’s a proper Yorkshire bloke!” she said.
Prior to joining Wavemaker, which was formerly known as CIA Media Solutions back in 1996, she said her journey has been “an interesting one”.
