The Turn Lab has hired Stephanie Hurst as its new CEO as the agency prepares to carry forward its momentum to further growth.

Hurst has been tasked with continuing to grow The Turn Lab’s business in Canada and the U.S., while maintaining the agency’s ethos of working with clients that share in the belief that business can do good and do well.

Founder and current CEO Howard Chang will be stepping down, though will remain with the agency as executive chairperson in an advisory and governance role.

The Turn Lab was created in 2018 when Top Drawer Creative was re-launched under a new business model that has since incorporated more consultancy and technology services into a typical ad agency offering. Its headcount is now approaching 60, and Chang says the agency was specifically looking for c-suite leaders with a “true marketing pedigree.”

“We are poised to move from startup to scale up in order to have a bigger impact on the marketing industry,” says Chang.

After starting her career agency-side at Ammirati Puris, Hurst spent seven years client-side in progressive roles at Unilever Canada. She made her return to the agency world with John St., eventually joining its executive team. She was named president of the agency in 2019 and CEO the following year. In 2022, she left John St., taking a sabbatical from the industry.

“What attracted me to The Turn Lab was their unique combination of part consultancy, part ad agency and part technology company, all working together to help clients wanting to solve big
problems or realize ambitious plans,” said Hurst. “This curated suite of practices allows us to offer the kinds of complete solutions that marketing leaders need today.”