Advance strengthens network ties with Ann-Louise Rosen as Chair of the Board
Advance strengthens network ties with Ann-Louise Rosen as Chair of the Board
On July 1st, our Co-CEO Ann-Louise Rosen starts her new role as Chair of the Board for Worldwide Partners. To mark the beginning of her two-year tenure, we spoke with Ann-Louise and John Harris (WPI President & CEO) about her new role, the network, and the importance of collaboration for collective success.
Founded in 1939, Worldwide Partners (WPI) is an agency-owned network that fuels brand growth through access, flexibility and global partnerships. “The vision of the network is to facilitate collaboration between independent agencies, enabling agency partners to offer on-demand, scalable access to new markets and capabilities around the world,” John explains.
“Our network is powered by a shared agenda to come together, activate talent and expertise and unlock new opportunities for clients,” Ann-Louse adds. “Advance joined WPI in 2018 because we share the same vision of leveraging collaboration for collective growth, and since we joined the network, we’ve strengthened our ability to offer tailored services to clients in new markets and sectors. We became a shareholder in 2020 and I joined the Board five years ago, and to this day the network remains an important tool for us to gain insights, develop new skills and deliver truly impactful work.”
“Our network is powered by a shared agenda to come together, activate talent and expertise and unlock new opportunities for clients.”
– Ann-Louise Rosen, Advance Co-CEO & WPI Chair
A network run by agencies, for agencies
With 90 agency partners in more than 50 markets across the globe, Ann-Louise will work actively in her new role to ensure that the organization consistently delivers on its value proposition of being the most collaborative agency network in the world. “Since Worldwide Partners is agency-owned and agency-run, the function of the Board is mainly to ensure that the voices of member agencies lead the strategic direction of the network,” she shares.
“As Chair, I will act as a voice for Worldwide Partners and represent the network within the marketing industry, the press, and industry associations. Internally, I’ll lead the Board, advocate for the network with our agency partners and help evaluate new agency members.”
Through her previous roles as EMEA Regional Director (2020-2023) and Vice Chair (2023-2025), Ann-Louise feels well-prepared to take on her new role as Chair. “Ann-Louise consistently offers a vision for the future that represents what’s best for the network and for our agencies, and she has established herself as a trusted leader with everyone across the network throughout her last five years on the Board,” says John.
“Ann-Louise consistently offers a vision for the future that represents what’s best for the network and for our agencies.”
– John Harris, WPI President & CEO
A shared commitment to collaboration
When asked about what lies ahead for the network, both John and Ann-Louise emphasise the importance of collaboration—not consolidation—as the industry landscape continues to evolve. “The future doesn’t belong to networks,” says John. “It belongs instead to agencies who can deliver clients a more networked model, where global agency capabilities can be leveraged to access talent in a simple, efficient and integrated manner.”
Ann-Louise adds that she will focus on upholding WPI’s collaborative culture in her new role while also growing the network community in a measured manner: “Worldwide Partners provides us with the opportunity to help clients succeed in any region of the world, and we want to continue getting talented, ambitious agencies on board to continue expanding our ability to offer tailored solutions across markets. At the same time, cultivating a collaborative environment where ideas can thrive is key, so it will be equally important to nurture the network’s entrepreneurial spirit through creating opportunities for learning, sparring and development.”
Ann-Louise will take over the role of Chair from Stephen Brown (CEO, FUSE Create), and her ongoing participation is warmly welcomed by the rest of the Board. “Ann-Louise is one of the most selfless and most collaborative people I have ever worked with,” says John. “She brings clarity, reason, and humanity to every conversation, engagement and decision. We are grateful for her contributions to the Board throughout the last 5 years and are thrilled to have her continued leadership as WPI embarks on this next phase of evolution.”
About Worldwide Partners
Worldwide Partners is a global network of the top independent marketing services agencies in the world who share an independent spirit and entrepreneurial drive to build commerce through connectivity, creativity and collaboration.
With over 90 agencies in more than 50 countries, and experience in over 90 industry verticals, Worldwide Partners serves as a hub that harnesses the talent, expertise and diversified capabilities of the agencies within our network to reimagine growth for both brands and agencies.
Learn more about Worldwide Partners here.