- Steve McClellan

PHD West has hired Anne-Marie Schaffer as evp, managing director, with oversight for the shop's Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

Schaffer (pictured) replaces Susan Taylor, who left the agency in February for a similar post at Aegis Group's Carat.

PHD's West Coast client roster includes Safeway, SoyJoy, Mitsubishi and Overture Films.

Schaffer joins PHD from Los Angeles independent Ignited, where she was evp, media.

Prior to Ignited, Schaffer was managing partner and director of strategic planning at WPP's Mediaedge:cia, where she led the Cingular Wireless/AT&T account.

Her other past client assignments include Honda, NBC Universal, Activision and Princess Cruise Lines.

PHD CEO Scott Hagedorn said: "Even as Anne-Marie is persuading clients to get ahead of change before they get left behind, she never forgets that its not just about filling the media toolbox with the newest tools -- it's about putting the right tools in there as well."