• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, January 14, 2015

WPP media arm GroupM, which has been considered a leading force for years in shaping and advancing the industry’s self-regulatory position on privacy today took a step to reinforce its own policies on the issue with the creation of a new management post — director of privacy and partner activation.

The new role is being filled by Rachel Glasser who will be based in New York and report to John Montgomery, GroupM Interaction COO North America, who has spearheaded the firm’s industry-leading efforts on the privacy front.

Glasser, a lawyer by training, is tasked with providing data privacy education across GroupM agencies and clients. Among other areas, she will focus on data use for online behavioral advertising and compliance with privacy laws and self-regulatory guidelines. She is also tasked with the activation of key technology partnerships within GroupM digital operations to ensure their performance is privacy compliant.

"Having Rachel in this key role underscores GroupM's leadership in the important area of data privacy," said GroupM CEO Kelly Clark. "We are helping our clients develop innovative, data-driven marketing solutions that respect consumers' privacy rights."

Added Montgomery: "Distinguishing between data usage for online marketing from other collection and practice uses will always be a matter of education. Clarifying to consumers the difference between free web and responsible data use versus irresponsible data practices continues to be a challenge and an important point of clarification. This is why we are amplifying our focus on the topic of privacy, and Rachel's expertise will be quite valuable to our efforts."

Glasser brings nearly 10 years of experience in digital media, paid search and social media to her role. Previously she was at GroupM media agency MEC, where she managed AT&T Mobility Retail. She has worked across multiple brands including L'Oreal Paris, The Home Depot, USPS, Guess, Bluefly.com and Subaru USA.

While in law school, she focused a portion of her studies on information privacy and the law, and completed internships with the Internet Bureau at the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York, and with the Entertainment Software Rating Board, a self-regulatory body that assigns ratings to video games and apps.