Academy taps EVP to move into president’s role

Academy has named Rebecca Ho as its president as the social-first agency moves into its next phase of growth.

Ho moves into the role after having served as Academy’s executive vice-president since July 2023.
Prior to that, she held EVP agency operations and VP managing director positions during a seven-year career at No Fixed Address.

She was also formerly COO of Ethnicity Matters and group account director of The Sandbox Agency.

“[She] brings the advertising rigor we need for our new-school social savvy,” says Cainan Querido, managing partner at Academy. “She knows how to play by the rules, but isn’t afraid to break them – and that’s what we need in a president as we grow.”

Earlier this year, longtime collaborator Megan Leahy joined the agency in an EVP role to lead a new partnerships division and add social-first PR to the list of services offered, tapping into a large network of influential creators and tastemakers.

McCann Canada president takes on vice-chair position

McCann Canada president Ryan Timms has been appointed vice-chair of the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) board.

Timms took on the role of McCann Canada president in the summer of 2019 and has been serving with ICA in a board-member capacity for more than 7½ years.

“If you want something to be better, you have to be willing to do something about it,” Timms says. “That’s why I believe it’s so important for agencies in Canada to support the ICA. There’s work to be done, and I’m ready to do my part.”