INNOCEAN Canada has announced the appointment of Shelly Kane as Vice President, People and Culture. Kane joins the agency's Executive Leadership Team, reporting to CEO Taewoo Lee.  

The appointment reflects the belief that the agency’s people are its greatest growth driver. As INNOCEAN moves toward its goal of becoming Canada’s most innovative fully integrated agency, expanding into new categories and bringing AI into workflows across all departments, it is investing in the leadership, capabilities and culture that will help its teams thrive.  

Kane brings 20 years of People & Culture experience across advertising, media, healthcare technology and large national organizations. She began her career in agency account services before moving into HR, including at TAXI, and spent several years as a fractional HR consultant for agency and media companies. Most recently she was Senior Director, People & Talent Development at AlayaCare, where she set the talent and leadership strategy and helped lead the company's AI transformation, supporting employees as they moved from uncertainty to confidence.  

"Shelly's focus has always been on people strategies that move the business forward," said Taewoo Lee, CEO, INNOCEAN Canada. "Her practical, business-minded approach is exactly what we need as we bring our agency’s vision to life. Our people are behind every piece of work we deliver, and Shelly brings the experience to help them grow even further."

At INNOCEAN, Kane will lead people strategy across the agency's Toronto and Montreal offices, partnering with the Executive Leadership Team to align people decisions with business priorities and equip leaders to bring out the best in their teams. Her priorities include strengthening leadership, attracting and developing exceptional talent, fostering a culture of experimentation, and helping teams use AI to unlock new capabilities.

"INNOCEAN Canada has strong momentum, and the people here are a big reason why," said Kane. "Great agencies are places where people feel free to experiment, try bold ideas and learn from what doesn't work. Technology can push that further, multiplying what talented people can do so they can take bigger swings. When people feel energized, trusted, and connected to what we're building, they do their best work, and the business moves with them."

Kane’s appointment comes as INNOCEAN continues to bring together creative, media, data and production capabilities to deliver more integrated, scalable work for clients. She will play a key role in shaping how the agency attracts, develops and energizes its talent, helping to build the capabilities it needs for its next chapter of growth.

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