Global socially led creative agency We Are Social has hired Tom Bayliss as chief client officer in the UK.

Bayliss joins the agency from Poke, part of the Publicis UK group, where he was managing director. At We Are Social, Bayliss will oversee a large client roster of global brands, including Audi, Google, First Direct and Vodafone. He will lead a client services division of 35 in London, strengthening client relationships and further developing the agency’s capabilities and offerings to clients. He will also sit on We Are Social’s executive board, that steers the London agency and works closely with the other global offices.

Bayliss joined Poke in 2014 from Elvis, as client services director. He oversaw both the agency’s client services and new business divisions, developing flagship accounts such as EE, Heineken and Garnier. In 2017, he moved into the role of managing director, encompassing strategic, commercial and cultural goals. 

Bayliss takes over from We Are Social’s head of client services Elie Adamson, who has relocated away from London to explore new opportunities, after five years with the agency. 

Jim Coleman, UK chief executive, We Are Social, says, “Tom is a skilled businessman, a charismatic leader and a super nice person. He’s coming to us with years of experience leading a creative agency to success, both financially and culturally. Elie was a cornerstone of our management team for a long time and she’s been incredibly difficult to replace, but Tom immediately stood out and impressed. We’re looking forward to having him on board.”