• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, February 14, 2012

Publicis Groupe’s media agency Spark, part of the Starcom MediaVest Group, is being injected with new executive talent and additional name-brand clients.

Starcom veteran Chris Boothe has been elevated to CEO at Spark. Spark will be opening an additional office in New York and adding several new clients from SMG to its client roster. They include Sara Lee, which had been aligned with Starcom and  worked closely with Boothe over the past few years. Other SMG clients joining the Spark roster include Stanley Steamer and Bass Pro Shops.

The additional clients will put Spark “well over the top” of the billion-dollar mark in terms of billings, the agency said.

Previously, the top executive at Spark was Ken Zasky, who the company said would remain in his role as president “managing client relationships, helping Boothe grow the brand, as well as driving and supporting the unique agency culture.”

In his new role, Boothe will focus on strengthening and elevating the agency’s new business, digital and creative product, the company said. Just this week, the agency was selected for media duties for Avis, the rental car company.

Previously, Boothe was president and COO at Starcom USA, where he was responsible for new business development, among other responsibilities. The company reported having a record $2 billion in new business last year. Wins included the $600 million Novartis pharmaceutical account. Last month, however, client General Motors decided to shift its $3 billion media account to Carat.

At Starcom Boothe also helped launch the agency’s “Space for Ideas” strategic planning approach. In his prior role at the agency, Boothe oversaw buying as president/chief activation officer.

Boothe will report to Laura Desmond, global CEO at Starcom MediaVest Group. Commenting on Boothe’s promotion, Desmond stated that he is “the right person to make sure Spark becomes an even more powerful third brand within SMG.”

Since helping found Spark in 1999, Zasky is credited with bringing many big-name clients to the agency, including E*Trade and Dairy Queen, as well as the recent Avis win. 

Boothe’s current client management and business development duties at Starcom are being spread out across multiple managing directors within the agency.