• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 5, 2024

GroupM this morning named Richard Hartell U.S. CEO of EssenceMediacom, filling an interim void created when Jill Kelly suddenly left that position early this year, and GroupM North America COO JiYoung Kim stepped in to handle it until a permanent successor could be named.

Hartell, who had been global CEO of Media Futures Group, Google's bespoke agency at GroupM, will continue as WPP's global client lead for the Google account, until a successor is named to replace him in his former role.

Prior to joining GroupM in 2021, Hartell was a long-time Publicis Media executive.

In his new role, Hartell reports to GroupM North America CEO Sharb Farjami.