• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 14, 2012

Digitaria, the San Diego-based digital agency within WPP’s JWT unit, is expanding its presence in the Midwest, announcing a major hire -- former SapientNitro executive Doug Ruhl -- who will establish a foothold in Chicago. Ruhl, who will split his time between JWT’s Chicago offices and Digitaria’s Minneapolis office, joined as vice president-business development from director of marketing services in SapientNitro’s Chicago office.

The move comes as Digitaria has been making a major push in Minneapolis, absorbing JWT’s offices in that market, where Digitaria CEO Dan Khabie has even set up shop.

The agency said Ruhl will work closely with the Minneapolis office, as well as the JWT team in Chicago, as part of Digitaria’s Midwest expansion.

Since merging JWT with Digitaria in Minneapolis, the agency has won assignments from Best Buy and Life Time Fitness, and has extended and expanded its assignments with the office’s largest client.