• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, August 8, 2013

GroupM has created the new post of global COO for its digital operation GroupM Interaction and has tapped company veteran Ruud Wanck to fill it, the WPP shop confirmed Thursday.

As global COO, Wanck will explore ways to optimize GroupM’s digital operations, digital technology, platform strategies and digital trading development in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, according to the company.

Wanck, who currently serves as chief digital officer for GroupM EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), will retain those responsibilities and will also join the company’s Global Executive Committee. (Hopefully he’s getting a nice bump in pay for all the extra work.) 

“The creation of this new global role and Ruud’s appointment is designed to further our position in the media services marketplace for the benefit of our stakeholders,” stated GroupM Global President Dominic Proctor. “At the same time, we want to expand the competitive advantage we bring to our clients and ensure that GroupM and our agencies proactively shape the future and maintain leadership in this space.” (No pressure or anything, Ruud.) 

Earlier Wanck served as chairman of GroupM in the Benelux countries, and worked at GroupM agency MEC and in the digital advertising sector as an entrepreneur. He’s a bit of a brainiac with a degree in physics and business economics and is co-author of the Dutch best-selling digital handbook, “Internet Advertising & Marketing.” 

GroupM said that Wanck would “work closely” with both Rob Norman, global chief digital officer and Juergen Blomenkamp, the company’s global chief investment chairman. Which makes sense given that he also reports to both of them.