Stagwell appoints Kate Richling as Chief Brand and Communications Officer at Stagwell Media
Kate Richling, formerly Global Chief Marketing Officer at Monks, will lead brand strategy, executive profiling, public relations and internal communications at Stagwell Media.
Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW) has appointed Kate Richling as Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Stagwell Media, the company’s global media agency. The appointment was announced on November 6, 2026, as the recently launched agency develops its position in the media market.
Richling previously served as Global Chief Marketing Officer at Monks, formerly known as Media.Monks and owned by S4 Capital. Stagwell said she brings nearly two decades of marketing experience to the role.
She spent nine years as a senior executive at Monks and was part of its global leadership team. Her work there included global brand architecture, positioning and cross-border integrations during a period of rapid M&A scale.
Richling will report directly to Liz Rutgersson, CEO of Stagwell Media.
In her new position, Richling will oversee global brand strategy, executive profiling, public relations and internal communications. Stagwell said her remit will connect the agency’s internal culture with its external positioning.
She will also work with the Growth, Client Leadership and Strategy teams. Their work will include developing a continuing pipeline of co-presented client case studies, effectiveness wins and executive thought leadership across Stagwell Media’s global operation.
Stagwell describes Stagwell Media as a global media agency using an agile, integrated model across platforms. The agency is part of Stagwell, which describes itself as a challenger network transforming marketing through AI.
Stagwell Media uses next-generation agentic technology, including The Media Machine, which the company calls its AI-native operating system. Stagwell says the system accelerates optimisation, maximises media investment efficiency and supports higher-quality audience engagement.
The agency has more than 2,300 experts across 50+ markets, according to the company. Its named global brand clients include Lenovo, DP World and P&G.
Rutgersson said Richling’s experience in building global brand authority and developing commercial narratives would support Stagwell Media’s market positioning. She described the agency as combining channel expertise, next-generation technology and connected capabilities to help brands deliver measurable business outcomes.
Richling said the agency combines media expertise, connected capabilities and technology developed by media specialists. She said her focus would include aligning internal culture with the agency’s external narrative and communicating what distinguishes its approach.
Stagwell announced the appointment of Kate Richling as Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Stagwell Media. Richling previously served as Global Chief Marketing Officer at Monks.
Stagwell announced the appointment on 6 November 2026.
Kate Richling will oversee global brand strategy, executive profiling, public relations and internal communications at Stagwell Media.
Kate Richling will report directly to Liz Rutgersson, CEO of Stagwell Media.
Stagwell said Kate Richling brings nearly two decades of marketing experience. She spent nine years as a senior executive at Monks, where she served on the global leadership team and worked on global brand architecture, positioning and cross-border integrations through rapid M&A scale.
Her mandate is to connect internal culture with external positioning and make agency marketing and internal communications primary drivers of global growth, talent alignment and market authority, according to the announcement.
Kate Richling will partner with Stagwell Media's Growth, Client Leadership and Strategy teams. The partnership will focus on building a continuous pipeline of co-presented client case studies, effectiveness wins and executive thought leadership across the agency's global footprint.
Stagwell describes Stagwell Media as a global media agency that delivers performance to unlock ambition for brands on every platform. The agency uses an agile, integrated model intended to help brands navigate an evolving marketplace.
Stagwell Media is powered by next-generation agentic technology, including The Media Machine, which the company describes as its AI-native operating system. Stagwell says the technology accelerates optimisation, maximises media investment efficiency and drives higher-quality audience engagement.
Stagwell Media has more than 2,300 experts across 50+ markets, according to the company. The agency delivers results for global brands including Lenovo, DP World and P&G.
Liz Rutgersson, CEO of Stagwell Media, said Richling's track record of building global brand authority and driving commercial narrative would be critical as Stagwell Media sharpens its voice. Rutgersson also described the agency as combining deep channel expertise, next-generation technology and connected capabilities to help brands deliver measurable business outcomes.
Kate Richling said Stagwell Media pairs deep media expertise with connected capabilities and technology built by media experts for media experts. She said she would focus on aligning the agency's internal culture with its external narrative and showcasing what makes its approach distinct.
Stagwell is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol STGW.