• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, November 30, 2010

After effectively creating the equivalent of full-service agencies to drive business within two of the world's largest media companies - Time Warner and Clear Channel Communications - John Partilla is returning to his Madison Avenue roots. Partilla, who most recently was president of global media sales and executive vice president of Clear Channel, has been named COO of Dentsu Network West, the New York-based part of the Japanese agency holding company that oversees Dentsu-owned companies in North America, Latin America and Europe.

Partilla's appointment comes at a time when Dentsu has become more aggressive in the Western marketplace, making acquisitions of hot creative and communications agencies such as ATTIK and mcgarrybowen, and digital agencies like 360i.

Before joining Time Warner to create what amounted to an in-house agency to develop creative and marketing based deals with major advertisers and agencies, Partilla had worked for some major Madison Avenue agencies, including WPP's Y&R unit.

"My years at Time-Warner and Clear Channel gave me the chance to see advertising through a very different lens," Partilla said in a statement released early this morning. "The business is crying out for new ways to create and deliver the support clients need. Dentsu is in the best position to lead this innovation. They have the corporate will, a phenomenal agency in Tokyo that has always been on the leading edge of the business, and two of today's most successful agencies in mcgarrybowen and 360i.