• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, May 8, 2009

Interpublic Group's Initiative has appointed former TBWAChiatDay exec Shane Ankeney as its new executive vice president and managing director, U.S., where he will be responsible for planning, research and strategy.

Based in New York and reporting to Tim Spengler, president of Initiative USA, Ankeney is also expected to be a key member of Initiative's business development process, helping to set the overall strategic direction of the company.

Ankeney, for his part, defined his role at Initiative as a "quest for the definition of the 'new' communications agency of the future."

Formerly executive director of audience planning and "Media Arts" at TBWAChiatDay, Ankeney is credited with helping to reinvent the Omnicom unit as a "Media Arts agency," and leading related efforts worldwide.

Initiative has done work for a long and diverse list of clients, including Bayer, Big Lots, Cadbury Schweppes, Computer Associates, Gateway, Hardee's, and Hitachi, to name a few.

Just last week, the agency defended the media buying and planning portion of The Home Depot account, while adding digital, strategy and "innovations" assignments, as well.

Last year, Initiative experienced a major management shuffle with Alan Cohen, president, Initiative West and Worldwide Innovation, leaving to become chief executive officer of OMD U.S.A.

The agency still managed to win nearly $1.5 billion in new U.S. billings, most of it from Hyundai/Kia, MillerCoors, and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

Earlier in his career, Ankeney served as chief media officer at Doner in Southfield, Michigan, and media director at Minneapolis' Carmichael-Lynch, among other stints.