Berlin, June 1, 2023. The experienced sales and business development expert Julie Willard (43) is moving to the creative industry after seven years at the media house Axel Springer. As Head of Business Development at Graft Brandlab, she will be responsible for developing new business areas and new clients.

It was not only her many years of experience as a sales and business development executive in the culture, luxury, lifestyle and media industries that predestined Julie Willard for this new role. Her passion for art, which she has applied as an art consultant for the European Central Bank, was also a decisive factor for us in her selection as the new Head of Business Development. 

"Whether it's a mobility concept for air taxis like Volocopter, multi-dimensional and immersive exhibition concepts for Hyundai or BMW, mediatecture projects and much more, our field requires a deep understanding of the industry as well as the creative work itself, but also offers numerous business opportunities that need to be developed. An exciting network, sales expertise and an understanding of the arts: all of which Julie brings to the table. We look forward to working with Julie to continue evolving our agency's positioning," says Rico Zocher, Managing Partner | Business at Graft Brandlab.

With a Master of Management from the French elite business school EDHEC in Lille and a degree in Arts Administration from New York University, USA, she spent almost six years as Head of Sales for the magazines Monopol, Cicero and various Swiss publications. In her next position at Axel Springer, she was responsible for the magazines BLAU and die dame, among other titles.

For the Berlin resident, the move to brand agency Graft Brandlab is both a promising and natural career step.

“In times when AI and immersive technologies can merge the digital with the physical, a unique space of opportunity opens up for the unfolding of impactful brand solutions. In this sense, I find Graft Brandlab's multidisciplinary and forward-looking approach, characterized by the development of multidimensional, experimental and visionary forms of expression, particularly exciting and inspiring. Excited by new and demanding challenges, I look forward to applying my passion for networking and developing business ideas to help shape Graft Brandlab as an agency.” Julie Willard, Director of Business Development, Graft Brandlab