• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, April 7, 2009

Kinetic, the WPP out-of-home media services specialty unit, this morning announced a restructuring of its global operations, and named New York-based Steve Ridley global COO, effectively shifting the organization's power base to the U.S. from its roots in Europe.

Ridley, who most recently was CEO of Kinetic for the Americas, has been a key player in Kinetic's growth in the U.S. market. It claims to be he U.S. market leader six offices nationwide, and billings of more than of $1.3 billion, which was helped by its recent win of MillerCoors U.S. out-of-home agency-of-record assignment.

In its announcement, Kinetic acknowledged that the move represents a shift in power from Kinetic's "traditional U.K. headquarters," and that it reflects the size and rapid growth of the U.S. out-of-home media marketplace.

"Developing Kinetic's European operations has been an exciting and highly rewarding challenge, and I am proud to have built such a strong, dynamic network," stated David Payne, who led that effort as CEO of Kinetic EMEA, but who will now be transferring to the U.S. to take on the role of CEO for the Americas, succeeding Ridley. "The opportunity to put that experience into play on a canvas as broad as North America was too good to miss," he added.

Kinetic Global CEO Eric Newnham will temporarily assume the role of CEO of EMEA along, until a new executive can be named to fill that role.