Sydney, June 21, 2024 — Houston, a leading brand strategy and design consultancy, has strengthened its leadership team with the promotion of Gretel Maltabarow to Managing Director and Stacey Saunders to General Manager. These changes are effective immediately and signify Houston’s commitment to nurturing talent and creating new opportunities for growth within the agency.
CEO and Founder Stuart O’Brien expressed his pride in recognizing the talents of two outstanding team members, stating, “Gretel and Stacey are two fiercely intelligent, collaborative, and creative team members. They have a proven track record in effortlessly making the seemingly impossible happen, architecting some of the most integrated, innovative, and effective work for our clients that keep us on the top of our game.”
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O’Brien continued, “Their respective promotions demonstrate their ongoing commitment to our team and show future Houston leaders that we’ll nurture talent and create new opportunities and pathways for our next generation of leaders to grow. I can’t wait to watch Gretel and Stacey use their wealth of knowledge to drive the business forward and create the next era of Houston.”
Gretel Maltabarow, previously the Group Account Director, has been with Houston for eight years. In her new role as Managing Director, she will focus on enhancing Houston’s core capabilities, driving collaboration across business divisions, fostering new business opportunities, and nurturing current client relationships. She will also continue to lead Houston’s Account Service team and work closely with O’Brien and Saunders to ensure the business’s future success.
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“Having watched the business grow and evolve over the past eight years, I’m excited by this next challenge,” said Maltabarow. “I feel further empowered to make a positive impact with our amazing team and clients by elevating the agency’s offering and bringing together the cross-function expertise of our teams to power client growth. I’m grateful for this opportunity and couldn’t be happier to share the promotional limelight with the very well-earned step up for Stacey Saunders to General Manager.”
Stacey Saunders, who has been with Houston for a decade, previously served as Chief of Staff. Her new responsibilities as General Manager will include pipeline delivery and management, enhancing business performance and agency culture, and driving innovation through system change and talent development.
“Over the past decade at Houston, I have experienced all facets of our business and feel so excited to lead Houston into its next growth phase alongside the powerhouses that are Gretel and Stu,” Saunders remarked. “I am also very excited that my new role will allow me to broaden my impact and provide mentorship across the agency, focusing on development and growth for the team.”
Both promotions are effective immediately, with Maltabarow and Saunders reporting directly to CEO & Founder Stuart O’Brien. These leadership changes mark a significant step forward for Houston, reinforcing its dedication to innovation and excellence in the brand strategy and design industry.
