Carat names Stringer and Meuleman to lead global strategy

Carat has handed its global strategy brief to two senior leaders, Sarah Stringer and Bram Meuleman.

The media agency — the company that plans and buys advertising space for brands — confirmed the appointments on 24 September 2026, as reported by Variety. Stringer becomes Global Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer. Meuleman becomes Global Chief Planning and Intelligence Officer.

Both will report to Chrissie Hanson, Carat’s global brand president. The structure puts strategy, innovation, planning and measurement under one reporting line.

Stringer will be based in New York. Her remit is to turn strategy into an immediate, actionable competitive advantage for clients, meaning plans that brands can use straight away rather than theory for later.

She was previously global chief of innovation for dentsu’s media practice and head of US media partnerships. Her past client work includes Universal Music, Disney, Marvel, Nintendo, adidas and Mattel.

Meuleman will be based in London. His role centres on evidence, behavioural science and proprietary intelligence, meaning Carat’s own data and research tools, to shape how media spending is designed and measured.

He was formerly global head of strategy at Carat. His previous client work includes Heineken and Kraft Heinz.

Carat describes itself as a global media buying agency and the gateway to dentsu, its parent group. The company reports 12,000 experts working across more than 100 countries over 54 years of operation, according to Carat. Its website also lists the announcement under the title “Carat Reshapes Global Strategy Leadership Around Innovation and Intelligence”.

What makes this stand out is the split. One role looks outward to innovation and speed. The other looks inward to proof and planning. For viewers, the effect is indirect but real. These are the teams that decide where ads run around the shows you watch.