NEW YORK, NY — [February 5, 2026] – Media agency Kepler today announced the appointment of Emily Maxey as Executive Vice President, Client Partner, a newly created role based in New York. Formerly a Kepler client, Maxey brings a rare, end-to-end perspective on what modern marketers need from agency partners and how integrated teams drive real, measurable business growth.
In her role, Maxey will serve as executive sponsor across key accounts including Rhone and La Colombe, while also supporting business development and strategic growth initiatives. With extensive experience supporting commerce- and retail-driven brands like Fila, Adidas and Gap, Maxey adds value as Kepler continues to deepen its capabilities for brands navigating increasingly complex consumer journeys.
“Historically, agencies have operated like a conveyor belt where creative hands work off to strategy, strategy to media, media to analytics,” said Maxey. “Kepler recognizes that brands get far more value when teams are truly integrated and collaborating in real time. That holistic approach, combined with the culture here, made Kepler feel like the right place to grow and be challenged.”
Maxey’s appointment is the latest step in Kepler’s deliberate effort to build a leadership team shaped by client-side experience, pairing strategic rigor with firsthand understanding of the pressures today’s marketers face. As brands navigate increasingly complex consumer journeys across commerce, media, and culture, Kepler continues to invest in leaders who know how strategy translates inside real organizations, not just agency decks. Maxey joins a growing group of senior Kepler leaders who began their careers on the brand side, including Chief Creative Officer Camm Rowland, formerly of Kohler, and EVP Client Partner Jim Halliday, who has held leadership roles at brands such as Bed Bath & Beyond, TickPick, and Hunnyball.
“As an industry, agencies talk a lot about being partners, but partnership starts with understanding what it’s like to sit on the other side of the table,” said Kepler’s Global CEO Remy Stiles. “Emily, Camm, and Jim have all lived that reality. That client-informed perspective is core to how we build strategy, structure teams, and ultimately drive results for our clients.”
In addition to Maxey’s appointment, Kepler also announced that Ashley Berkowitz has joined the firm as Vice President, Head of Strategic Planning, another newly created role aligned with Kepler’s broader integration efforts.
Berkowitz will help to lead Kepler’s Strategic Planning function, ensuring a consistent throughline connects insights, narrative, and execution across client work, media briefs, and new business pitches. With experience spanning regulated categories such as spirits, beer, and pharma, as well as deep expertise in Gen Z behavior and cultural relevance, Berkowitz brings a strong perspective on how brands can show up meaningfully in culture while navigating complex business and regulatory environments.
These senior appointments build on Kepler’s continued investment in integrated leadership, including the recent promotion of Garrett Dale from Chief Partnership Officer to Chief Media Officer.
