Initiative Taps Zenith Vet As SVP

Initiative USA has hired veteran Zenith Media executive Kris Magel, as its senior vice president and director of national broadcast.

Magel will eventually fill the position formerly held by Tim Spengler, as the agency's top national broadcast executive. Spengler is now chief activation officer of Initiative, to whom Magel will report.

Magel will start in 2008 and assume the duties of Scott Haugenes, currently senior vice president and group director of national broadcast. He will leave Initiative in early 2008 to join the video-on-demand network RipeTV. Magel will work with Ray Dundas, senior vice president and group director of national broadcast.

"Kris is passionate and knowledgeable about today and has a vision about tomorrow," says Tim Spengler.

Spengler says Magel will also work closely with the agency's growing digital extensions division, which places media from multiplatform deals made with traditional TV networks.

Magel comes from Zenith Media, where he was senior vice president of national broadcast account director. He worked with Maybelline NY/Garnier and Nestle brands.

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Before Zenith, Magel was senior vice president and director of national broadcast for Optimedia, doing work for clients including T-Mobile, Whirlpool, BMW and T-Rowe Price.

Initiative clients include AOL, Bayer, Big Lots, CBS, Computer Associates, Coors, Gateway, Hardee's, Hitachi, The Home Depot, Kao Brands, Lionsgate Films, LucasArts, Nikon, Quiznos, Showtime and SC Johnson.

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