The new CEO of McCann Germany chats about super-fast content production, the advantage of diversity, and the eternal power of stories.
There’s a theme running through ad industry journalism right now about people leaving established networks to join indie agences – or start their own. Alkisti Stolp has defied the trend by doing it the other way around: leaving the indie she founded, Twentyrising, to join McCann Germany as CEO.
For Alkisti, though, the story is more complex than the simplified take above. “It’s not the full picture,” she suggests. “I agree our industry is experiencing a reshuffle – I’d even dare to say it’s transforming. Macroeconomics is having an impact, as is the anxiety surrounding AI. But I think everyone is trying to see where they can have the most impact with the work they do. For me, this is not about leaving a successful independent agency and going back into a network. It’s about moving forward to scale.”
Alkisti has worked for big networks before, she points out. “Experience has shown me how powerful these global platforms can be when you’re using them entrepreneurially for the benefit of your clients. So for me, it’s about where I can achieve the most and build things that will last. And I believe McCann is the best place to do that right now.”
Interestingly, Alkisti started out in publishing, at VICE magazine when it was one of the hottest media properties out there. As digital forced the press to evolve, she became digitally literate, even moving into the gaming sector for a time, before joining Geometry – later merged into VML – as global client lead. Posts at Monks and Wunderman followed. She started Twentyrising in 2023.
“What I’ve identified as the red thread across all these very different assignments and tenures is that, to me, it’s always been about stories. Whether it’s through the pages of a magazine, a screen, or a digital platform, it all comes down to storytelling, to various audiences using a variety of tools.”
That’s why McCann’s ethos, Truth Well Told, resonates with her so deeply, she explains. “It’s timeless and medium agnostic. Because at the end of the day, the human truth is the human truth. However you tell it, the story doesn’t change.”
Defending diversity
Talking of stories, Alkisti was born and raised in Greece, arguably the birthplace of storytelling. “In fact my name is a very, very ancient Greek name,” she says. A quick internet check reveals that it means “strong defender” or “shield of the people” – not bad for a CEO. Her husband is German, which is why she swapped Athens for Germany seven years ago (she’s currently based in Berlin). The change has proved enriching.
“For the sake of our conversation, let’s stereotype a bit more than we should. Obviously these are two very different cultures. But what I like about it is the way I can bring my own culture to my present life. How I talk, how I move my hands, how it has shaped my thinking, my arguing. My Greek side brings all this beautiful chaos of creativity, emotions, impulses. While the German element of my life is more about structure, processes, focus. And I try to live right in the intersection of both.”
Her background has made her sensitive to the importance of diversity within teams. “Not only in terms of gender and ethnicity, but also the different types of personalities that need to coexist in a working environment. Often it takes time for the personalities to unfold and match with one another. But that’s when the magic happens. The creative part of our industry is about sensitive people. People who can grasp the buzz of culture, who can look deeper, who can see the human truth. These people have very open antennas. And ideally, they are part of a diverse team. When you add skill, that for me is a winning team.”
The creative part of our industry is about sensitive people. People who can grasp the buzz of culture, who can look deeper, who can see the human truth.
Moving at the speed of brands
As a new CEO, what is her ambition for McCann Germany?
“McCann here – and I’m very, very firm about this – is ready for its new chapter. My goal is to make McCann in Germany one of the country’s most prominent creative references. Did you know that McCann has been present in this market for almost 100 years? It was one of the first markets McCann HQ decided to invest in. Obviously it’s been through many different configuations. It has always adapted, which is what we’re doing right now.”
She observes that the agency has recently created sophisticated and ambitious campaigns for WWF, L’Oréal Paris and Ferrero, among others. Part of her job is to ensure this work is more widely acknowledged. But McCann Germany is also embracing cutting edge creativity. On the day of our conversation it had just launched its new content studio.
“It’s a creator, social and content production hub. A very fast and nimble way of producing content at scale, AI-supported. It allows us to move at the pace brands expect today, still with the craft that McCann is known for at its heart. This is, for me, a big step towards the future – I’m very excited about it.”
An opportune moment
The agency is already picking up a new momentum, climbing the industry rankings, attracting pitches and reaping awards. Alkisti’s arrival will no doubt accelerate this process. The improving German economy – which has been moribund of late – may add more fuel.
"The government and the local financial press indicate the return of growth not just in 2027, but already in 2026, which is great. Everyone is itching to move forward, and although budgets are still being watched, there’s definitely a cautious optimism.”
This overlap of caution and desire may be the ideal space for a supercharged, agile McCann Germany. “I believe it’s the moment for us to reach out to our clients and give them the solutions they’re looking for, with the speed, the pace and the quality they desire.”
Definitely a story worth following.
