• May 25, 2005

Independent consultant Brian Kelly has been hired by Interpublic Group's Initiative as executive vice president-retail marketing, with responsibility for managing the Home Depot account.

Kelly, who reports to Rich Simms, executive vice president, general manager, Western and Southeast regions, will oversee the integration of a variety of agency resources, core media planning, and buying operations that surround Home Depot's marketing and advertising. In addition, reporting to Carolyn Bivens, Kelly will lead Initiative's growing retail business unit. Kelly will be based in Initiative's Atlanta office.

Before starting up Kelly Consulting, he held the position of chief marketing officer for Lane Bryant Inc., the women's apparel plus-size brand. His retail experience also includes stints at Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Eddie Bauer. In between, Kelly spent seven years at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising in Chicago, where he rose to the position of senior vice president, group account director, managing the Sears account.

--David Kaplan