Two Execs Boomerang Back to Starcom as Chief Strategy and Client Officers

Starcom U.S. has welcomed back two of its former leaders to helm key roles recently left vacant by prior executives.

Preeti Nadgar returns to Starcom as chief strategy officer after nearly a decade away—marking her third stint at the agency. She joined Starcom for the first time in 2004 and returned in 2012, working her way up to vp level before leaving for other agencies. Most recently, she served as CSO at GroupM media agency EssenceMediacom.

She succeeds Kim Einan, who was Starcom’s CSO from 2022 until early 2025, when she left to join Omnicom Media group agency OMD in the same role.

“Starcom’s legacy of leadership and limitless reinvention [has] pulled me back for a third time,” Nadgar told ADWEEK. “I look forward to solving clients’ business challenges, building diverse and dynamic teams with meaningful work.”

Kate DuBois, meanwhile, rejoins Starcom as chief client officer, following the mid-2024 departure of Maureen Glure, who joined GroupM agency Wavemaker as chief operations officer. DuBois joins from Initiative, where she was global business lead.

Both executives join Starcom U.S. CEO Shelby Saville and chief investment officer Kristen Haarlow in the agency’s C-suite.

“We need leaders who understand the business pressures clients are under, but also what’s going on in the consumer mind—so we can create breakthrough media that drives real results,” Saville told ADWEEK. “It’s about building a leadership team that can both accelerate and transform our work while being strong thought partners to clients.”

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Saville emphasized that Nadgar’s expertise in tying strategy to human behavior, alongside DuBois’ performance-led approach, will help the agency deliver both agility and clarity for clients.

She also noted that Starcom has long been a place where talent is built—and rebuilt. “Many people get their start here or spend a formative part of their careers with us,” she said. “It’s a place where you develop strong strategy, buying, and client management skills that stick with you.”

“Once a Starcommer, always a Starcommer,” she said of the returning leaders. “It’s exciting to welcome them back for this next chapter.”