VMLY&R has appointed Noel Cottrell Chief Creative Officer for Kansas City, where he’ll lead creative efforts and report to Co-Chief Creative Officer of North America John Godsey. Among other clients the Kansas City office services fast food chain Wendy’s.  Cottrell joins VMLY&R from Fitzco in Atlanta, where he served as Chief Creative Officer for nearly a decade. He worked with brands like Coca-Cola, Sony and Navy Federal Credit Union.  Earlier Cottrell co-founded two  South African advertising agencies — Joe Public and FoxP2. He later moved to the U.S. where he worked as executive creative director at Grey New York …

Portland, OR independent creative agency North has appointed co-founder Rebecca Armstrong CEO. She’ll continue to lead the agency in partnership with co-founder and chief creative officer Mark Ray.  The agency said the move would allow Armstrong focus on guiding North through a rapidly changing landscape in addition to her role in leading new business development for the agency.  And Ray, in addition to CCO duties will expand North’s branded and entertainment content capabilities.  Jordan Delapoer will be taking over Armstrong’s role as managing director and will focus on client services and business operations. Delapoer, a Wieden+Kennedy alum, …

Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) has appointed Sedef Onar Global Chief Talent Officer to help the agency take a more strategic, long term view on hiring, training, and developing talent. The position is new. The agency has offices in New York, London, Shanghai, and Singapore. Previously Onar Chief Talent Officer and Partner at 72andSunny, part of MDC Partners.  

Aubrey Walker has been named Group Creative Director at O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul. Previously Walker had been freelancing for the Chicago-based agency. Earlier he worked at agencies including Leo Burnett, Carol H. Williams, Matlock and Burrell among others.