• by Wayne Friedman , September 11, 2008

On the heels of some major appointments in the U.S., Interpublic Group's Initiative media agency has now reorganized some of its international businesses.

Mario Mateus has been promoted to president, Initiative Europe, Middle East and Africa from CEO of Initiative Portugal. Mateus has been with Initiative since 1994; in 2003 he became CEO of the Portugal office.

Roger Camplisson has added responsibility as regional representative for Initiative's Asia-Pacific region. He will continue in his current role as CEO of Initiative Australia. Camplisson started with Initiative UK in 1993, and moved to Singapore in 2000 to run the Unilever business there.

There have also been changes in Initiative's Latin America operations. Jean-Christophe Petit has been promoted to president of IPG's Mediabrands Latin America from president, Initiative Latin America. Taking his spot will be 20-year media veteran Annetta Cembrano, who moves up from CEO of Initiative Chile.

In the agency's digital area, Bant Breen has moved up to president of worldwide digital communications. Breen has held many digital positions at IPG, as well as running IPG's Media Lab on the West Coast.

Richard Beaven, CEO of worldwide, Initiative, said that with these announcements, the agency will create a new Worldwide Leadership Team at Initiative, comprising: Beaven; Janet Fitzpatrick, worldwide director of communication planning; Sue Moseley, worldwide director, research and futures; Bant Breen, president of worldwide digital communications; Tim Spengler, president, Initiative USA; Mario Mateus, president, Initiative EMEA; Annetta Cembrano, president of Initiative Latin America; and Roger Camplisson, regional representative of Initiative Asia-Pacific.

Earlier this week, Initiative USA hired Jason Meil as executive vice president, director of innovations. He effectively replaces the position vacated by Alan Cohen, who has gone on to become CEO of OMD USA.

As part of that announcement, Katy Ferguson has moved up to vice president and account director, with responsibility over entertainment accounts, CBS, Showtime and Fuse.