Paradise announced that Wendy Kerr has joined the agency as Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience in advertising agency operations, finance and business management to the team.
In her new role reporting to CEO Mark Jaronski, Kerr will lead the agency’s workflow and project operations across all aspects of the agency. Kerr will work closely with agency leadership to steward and strengthen systems, processes and resources that support Paradise’s continued growth.
“Paradise has an exciting opportunity to build on its momentum, and I’m thrilled to be joining the team at this point in its growth,” said Kerr. “What drew me to Paradise is the combination of talented people, strong client relationships and an entrepreneurial spirit. I’m looking forward to bringing an operational and business perspective that helps create the structure, clarity and resources our teams need to do their best work.”
Kerr most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of The Zimmerman Agency, part of The Collective, a group of agencies owned by Omnicom. In this role, she worked across the organization to align people, processes, technology and resources with business goals to support growth and profitability. Throughout her career, she has led operations, finance and IT for a 150-plus-person agency, driven more than $1 million in annual cost savings, modernized business systems and reporting, and developed processes that enabled teams to work more efficiently and effectively.
“Wendy brings an exceptional combination of agency experience, business acumen and leadership to Paradise,” said Jaronski. “She understands what it takes to build the seamless infrastructure behind a successful agency while keeping people, clients and the business at the center of every decision. Her experience will be incredibly valuable as Paradise continues to grow, and we’re excited to welcome her to the team.”
Based in Tallahassee, Kerr also spent nearly a decade owning and operating a successful design and retail business, giving her firsthand experience managing a business from the owner’s perspective. Her experience includes leading teams, serving clients, negotiating with vendors, managing resources and making decisions that directly affect the bottom line.
A University of Florida graduate with a B.A. in Advertising, Kerr has built her career at the intersection of advertising and business, bringing keen operational and financial perspectives to creative organizations and growing enterprises.
“I’ve spent my career helping creative businesses become stronger and more effective from the inside out,” Kerr said. “I’m excited to get to know the Paradise team, understand what makes the agency special, and put my experience to work helping build what comes next.”
