April Six North America announces new shared leadership-team structure

The marketing industry is undergoing fundamental changes that few saw coming before the start of the pandemic. Even so, a handful of agencies—April Six among them—have excelled during these unprecedented times. Our ability to thrive amid the disruption and uncertainty is a tribute to an evolving, increasingly distributed group of Sixers who’ve taken the constant state of change in stride.  

The changes happening at April Six most definitely mirror the experiences of our clients and partners amid the Great Resignation. In fact, it was the recent departure of Jill Melchionda, our founder and President in North America since 2013, which catalyzed a series of essential moves in the region. In all, they represent a significant shift in the team’s longstanding leadership structure, even as our supportive, inventive culture endures. 

“Our success in this market speaks to the inspired leadership of the regional team over the past eight years,” says Fiona Shepherd, April Six Global CEO. “I’m excited for what the future holds, as we evolve to a shared management structure in North America, guided by trusted senior leaders who’ve been here from nearly the beginning.”

Assuming the role of Managing Director, Grady Ban—employee #2 in the U.S. and, previously, General Manager—will oversee business activities in the region, working alongside all the current members of the North America leadership team (in updated roles): Janet Knight, Head of Client Development; Melissa Koonce, Head of Client Services; Tom Lucente, Head of Copy & Content; Trent Talbert, Head of Strategy, Growth & Innovation; and Erik Ulvestad, Head of Design & Digital.  

“The shared leadership structure will allow this team to face the challenges of today and tomorrow with clarity and continuity,” says CEO Fiona Shepherd. “By leveraging the deep expertise of all these senior leaders, we’ll be relying less on a single decision-maker to guide the business, and more on the collective experience of the team. These six individuals live our values day-in and day-out.” 

When fearless and curious people work together, great things are possible. With the new management team in place, we face the future with renewed confidence in our ability to deliver business-building, category defining, award-winning work. These leadership team changes become effective October 1, 2021. 

Founded in 2000, April Six makes moments that matter for brands shaping the future. We meet the marketing and communications requirements of B2B organizations in Mobility, Technology and Science through our specialist knowledge of these future-shaping industries. A member of the Mission Group, April Six operates a global network of full-service offices in the UK, North America, Europe, and Asia. Visit aprilsix.com to learn more.