Inizio Evoke Appointed Three Senior Executives
The firm has filled leadership roles in media, AI enablement, and client relations to connect strategy with investment.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in People
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Inizio Evoke has appointed three executives to its leadership team to advance its focus on integrating behavioral intelligence with client services. The hires fill key roles across the agency's media, AI, and client-management operations.
Why it matters
The company is reorganizing its leadership to better align data-driven AI capabilities with its media investment and client relationship functions. This move reflects a broader industry push to integrate specialized technological models into core agency strategy.
Inizio Evoke added three executives to its leadership team, replacing the prior structure that included Katie McCarthy, who served as president of media starting in 2023.
The players
Inizio Evoke
A global marketing and communications agency that provides health-focused commercial services and strategic consulting.
Jake Vander Linden
The new president of media who previously held a leadership role at Moon Rabbit.
Brian Gundich
The new EVP of AI enablement who brings experience from his previous role at Omnicom.
Barbara Patchefsky
The new global client lead who previously served in an executive capacity at Havas Health & You.
Katie McCarthy
The former president of media who served in the leadership role starting in 2023.
The details
Jake Vander Linden steps in as president of media, focusing on scaling strategies through behavioral intelligence and analytics. Brian Gundich takes the role of EVP of AI enablement, where he is tasked with integrating AI systems throughout the company's operating model. Barbara Patchefsky joins as the global client lead to oversee relationships, moving from her previous tenure at Havas Health & You.
Timeline
September 29, 2026: Inizio Evoke announced the three new leadership appointments.
2023: Katie McCarthy began her term as president of media.
Market Landscape
The appointments represent a pivot toward formalizing the integration of behavioral intelligence and generative AI into agency operating models. This strategy follows a documented industry trend of firms centralizing AI governance to differentiate client service offerings.
Owners and managers should monitor how these new executive roles impact the agency's service delivery, particularly regarding AI-driven media strategies. Evaluating whether your own service providers are similarly integrating AI enablement can help determine if your vendor lineup remains competitive.
The takeaway
Agencies are increasingly embedding AI and behavioral analytics directly into the top tiers of their organizational structures to drive investment efficiency. Operators should review their own long-term service agreements to see if these new specialized capabilities are included in standard deliverables.
Further reading
For more on industry talent shifts and leadership changes, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FiercePharma.
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