Arnold names a new chief executive

Andrew Benett, co-CEO of Arnold’s sister agency, Euro RSCG in New York, next month will take the helm at Arnold, overseeing strategy and creativity for big clients that include McDonald’s Corp., Volvo, Ocean Spray, and Carnival Cruise Lines.

Fran Kelly, the CEO since 2006, will become vice chairman at Arnold, where he has been for 16 years.

“Arnold clearly needed something new in terms of restimulating its ability to win and maintain new accounts,’’ said Chris Cakebread, a Boston University advertising professor. “They brought in this guy to revive the agency to its former stature.’’

Kelly, a 53-year-old Weston resident, said yesterday that Benett “is an investment in talent that can help us grow for the next 10 years.’’

Benett, who will start in his new position in early March, said he’s “extremely excited’’ to join Arnold, a unit of Paris-based Havas Worldwide. “Arnold has a lot of momentum,’’ said Benett, 38, who plans to move to Boston this summer with his wife and two children. “I do believe that in busi ness, momentum builds momentum.’’

The change in guard comes as Arnold struggles in the sluggish economy. In 2008, the firm cut 8 percent of its staff. And last year, Arnold trimmed costs and implemented salary cuts that averaged 5 percent after losing some big clients. In October, the firm said it would not compete for Citizens Financial Group’s advertising business, which it had handled since 2001, and it lost some other brand name clients, including RadioShack Corp. and Choice Hotels International Inc.

Benett said there are no additional layoffs or management changes planned this year. He also said he’s hopeful about Arnold’s future and wants one of his key initiatives to be attracting more clients, particularly in the health care and travel sectors. “I think there is potential for the business,’’ Benett said.

Despite the loss in clients last year, Arnold has gotten a boost recently, picking up new accounts, including Lexington-based VistaPrint and branding work for the Miami Dolphins football team. Since the new year, the agency has won two lucrative clients: an $80 million Panasonic North American account and a $20 million account for Mike’s Hard Lemonade. The agency also said it will announce a new bank client next month, though neither Kelly nor Benett would give details.

Arnold recently hired 10 people for its digital division as it attempts to tap into the power of social-networking sites to help market its clients. The company is also looking to hire six more digital workers, Kelly said.

Benett, who at Euro RSCG oversaw some of the agency’s more memorable campaigns for marquee clients such as Jaguar, Heineken, and Ritz Crackers, said he hopes to further develop Arnold’s digital team.

“When we look at where this business is and where agencies are, clearly driving digital is important,’’ said Benett.

“Our intention is that [Arnold] remains a creative-oriented agency, and our intention is to build upon that but grow it globally as well.’’

Johnny Diaz can be reached at jodiaz@globe.com.