• by Joe Mandese , February 16, 2007

For the second time in two days, WPP Group announced a restructuring of its GroupM unit, naming Marc Goldstein CEO of GroupM North America, and promoting Scott Neslund to succeed him as President-CEO of its MindShare North America unit.

The news comes a day after GroupM named Rupert Day COO of its worldwide operations, reporting directly to CEO Irwin Gotlieb. In that announcement, Gotlieb said the move recognized the need for a "deeper management structure" at GroupM, which oversees for of WPP's media networks: MindShare, Mediaedge:cia, MediaCom and Maxus, and is the world's largest buyer of media, spending $40 billion annually for clients around the globe.

Day's appointment filled a void at the top that was created when Jon Mandel stepped down from GroupM's No. 2 position to become CEO of NielsenConnect.

The North American moves, meanwhile, solidify the senior management team on this continent and surround Gotlieb with some of his closest and oldest agency allies. Both Goldstein and GroupM North America Chief Investment Officer Rino Scanzoni have worked with Gotlieb for years.

Organizationally, Scanzoni will oversee all of the North American buying strategies, including the group negotiating deals GroupM leverages on behalf of its agencies and their clients.

Goldstein will be responsible for overseeing general management as well as strategic and administrative activities at each of the unit's networks. He also will have operational responsibilities covering group development, synergies across the four operating agencies, and financial performance.