• by Fern Siegel , May 1, 2012

Michael Baer, a former group managing director at Cramer-Krasselt, has joined Starcom USA as executive vice president/managing director. He in in charge of the agency’s Hallmark, LEGO, Luxottica and Walgreens accounts.

Baer called Starcom "a leader in the evolution of the media space."

Based in the agency’s headquarters in Chicago, he will join Starcom’s managing board. CEO Lisa Donohue said he supplied "a deep experience in the creation of non-traditional communications strategies" that are essential to achieving clients' goals. Prior to his appointment, he was EVP/managing director at Lowe & Partners on the Unilever account.

Before Starcom, Baer served as senior vice president/group managing director at Cramer-Krasselt, where he handled the Porsche account, overseeing both creative and media teams. Earlier, he was also involved on the Heinz and RH Donnelly businesses.

Prior to Lowe, Baer was at Foote, Cone & Belding in New York.

He will report to Donohue.

Recently, Starcom MediaVest Australia won agency of the year at the Festival of Media Awards in Montreux, Switzerland.