Phoenix ad agency changes leadership structure
Lavidge, a Phoenix-based advertising agency, announced May 13 it will be restructuring its leadership to create two co-presidents to run the firm, along side CEO Bill Lavidge.
Lavidge CFO and executive vice president Sandra Torre and Bob Case, the former chief creative officer, have been promoted to co-presidents of the company, which in 2023 ranked as the ninth-largest Phoenix-area public relations firms, according to Phoenix Business Journal data.
Both Torre and Case joined the agency more than 20 years ago. Their co-presidential partnership is supposed to give Lavidge a “competitive advantage through balanced and forward-thinking stewardship,” the company said in an announcement.
“These well-earned promotions reinforce my vision for Lavidge that’s as critical today as it was when I founded it 42 years ago: that a company’s strength is its people,” Lavidge said in a statement. “My top leaders are award-winning, savvy professionals with a passion for their work; I feel assured that we have the most capable team to advance the agency’s goals into the near and distant future.”
Both Torre and Case have been involved in several different organizations to become leaders in their fields. Torre was named among Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business in 2023. Case is a member of the Society of Illustrators, was previously on the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the board of the Phoenix Ad Club.
The agency also announced that Alicia Wadas, who has been the firm’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president alongside Torre for almost two decades, is planning to retire at the end of 2024 and has been named President Emeritus. Wadas is expected to consult the firm after her departure in December.
Lavidge has also recently promoted Tim Trull to chief strategy officer. Stephen Heitz, the company’s chief innovation officer, will now be concentrating a lot of his time and effort on product development with an emphasis on AI.