• by David Kaplan , April 14, 2005

MPG has named British television producer Guy Champniss its first global director of branded entertainment, as the Havas-owned media agency looks to expand both its London presence and its varied product integration practices.

Champniss will be overseeing all MPG units that work on branded content, including MPG Entertainment, MPG Art, MPG Mass Media, MPG Media Especial and MPG En Scène.

MPG made some noise in the U.S. branded entertainment business last year when it cast two former reporters -- Hank Kim and Richard Linnett -- who headed Advertising Age's so-called "Madison & Vine" initiative to run its New York-based operations.

A BBC producer of British TV specials such as The Baftas (the British film industry's equivalent of the Oscars) and Comic Relief, Champniss also worked for Carlton Television (now ITV in the UK) and Granada Television. He has also worked with The William Morris Agency, CBS, Walt Disney, ABC television and Celador Productions. Champniss will split his time between MPG's Barcelona and London offices.