NEW YORK--Nine years after selling their eponymously-named PR firm to Waggener-Edstrom, Brian Maloney and Margie Fox are departing for senior roles at Ogilvy PR.

The duo have been appointed managing directors of Ogilvy PR’s US consumer marketing practice. In addition, Fox takes on the role of US creative director for the consumer practice, while Maloney will serve as New York consumer marketing group head.

Both will remain based in New York and begin their new roles at Ogilvy PR in early 2013. 

When Ogilvy comes knocking, you have to pay attention," said Fox. "We had 15 fantastic years at Maloney & Fox, but we believe change is fantastic, life-affirming and helps you grow."

Maloney & Fox co-founded their former firm in 1997, before selling it to Waggener-Edstrom in 2003 and remaining in charge of the New York consumer outfit, where they worked on award-winning campaigns for such brands as Mercedes-Benz, Tupperware, Microsoft, Shutterfly, LinkedIn, Glenfiddich and T-Mobile.

Their arrival at Ogilvy follows the hire earlier this year of Ogilvy PR president of global consumer marketing Mitch Markson, to whom they will report. 

Markson succeeded Samantha Allen, whose 14-month stint at Ogilvy PR New York coincided with the departure of several of the firm’s senior consumer PR executives, including former US consumer EVP Bill Reihl. Ogilvy PR has not had a US consumer head since Reihl’s departure in late 2010, an agency spokesperson confirmed.

Markson said his goal is to "rebuild" Ogilvy's consumer marketing practice and added that he had tried to hire Maloney and Fox twice while at Edelman. "They are incredibly entrepreneurial - having two people that built their agency, combined with the Ogilvy brand, I'm hoping is going to be a great leap forward."

With the hiring of Mitch, [Ogilvy CEO] Chris Graves is sending a pretty strong signal to major brands out there," said Maloney. "They are back and a force to be reckoned with. I think it’s an invigoration."

“In less than six months, Ogilvy PR has hugely ramped up its commitment to the consumer marketing practice with the hiring of global head Mitch Markson, previously with Edelman,” added Graves. “Followed by this major addition of two new entrepreneurial leaders.”

Waggener-Edstrom corporate communications SVP Scott McLaughlin told the Holmes Report that the firm remains committed to its consumer PR operation, despite the departures, but declined to comment on whether the Maloney & Fox branding will be retained in New York.

“Our combined global consumer, branding and marketing capabilities are strong and growing – as evidenced by the work we do for clients such as Microsoft, Mercedes, T-Mobile, Samsonite, Pirelli and others,” said McLaughlin. “This remains a core offering to our clients.”

Both executives are returning to Ogilvy. Early in her career, Fox spent two years at Ogilvy PR in Washington DC. Maloney, meanwhile, worked for the firm for eight years, after which he joined Patrice Tanaka in 1995, where he met future agency partner Fox.

Maloney said that Ogilvy's integrated offer was a "real draw". "I’m very excited to really put integration to work within the Ogilvy system. While we did quite a bit of that at Maloney & Fox, we would have to piecemeal it with other agencies and other companies."