Adam Kasper has been appointed executive media director at digital agency Genuine, part of Interpublic Group. Kasper previously served as chief media officer at Havas Media North America from 2005 until June of last year. Most recently he was an independent strategic advisor.  Genuine was acquired by IPG’s Jack Morton in 2014. Both shops are based in Boston.    

GroupM media shop Wavemaker opened for business earlier this month in five countries in the Asia Pacific region – China, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.   Wavemaker China comprises a team of 800 across four offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Nanjing, and will be led by CEO Gordon Domlija. Managing Director Ajay Gupte will lead Wavemaker Indonesia in Jakarta with his team of 140. Wavemaker Philippines will be headed by CEO Malu Vasallo in Manila with a team of over 150 staff. Wavemaker Singapore will open with a team of 60 led by Managing Director Desh Balakrishnan. …

Randy Cohen, one of the co-founders of marketing research firm Advertiser Perceptions is taking on the additional role of CEO effective Jan. 1. He’ll retain duties as president and chief operating officer. Ken Pearl, co-founder/CEO, will shift to the new role of executive chairman to focus on business development, alliances and partnerships with companies and organizations serving the advertising industry. Pearl, will also maintain his marketing and financial oversight responsibilities for the company.

Seattle-based DNA elevates Chris Witherspoon from principal/managing director to president and chief growth officer, a new position at the agency, to grow the agency's national client base and operations. Creative director Scott Ferro is promoted to executive creative director. Chief executive officer/co-founder Alan Brown will continue to focus on guiding the agency’s leadership, its offering and vision. Co-founder and creative leader Dan Gross will become chairman of the agency, focusing on long-term strategic initiatives, potential partnerships and acquisitions.

George P. Johnson Experience Marketing (GPJ) has appointed Craig Erlich, senior vice president, general manager to oversee the agency's new operations in Franklin, Tennessee, home of client Nissan/Infiniti North America headquarters. He retains similar responsibilities at the agency’s Auburn Hills, MI office. Earlier he was CEO at Pulse220.

Full-service agency Rauxa names Preeti Patel, formerly of Huge, as vice president of technology. Based in the agency's New York office, Patel will lead long-term strategy and innovation opportunities for clients including Vans and Frontpoint Security.

VSA Partners has named Avery Gross, associate partner, executive creative director to serve in its New York office. In this newly created role, Gross will report to Bob Winter, partner, executive creative director and focus on further developing VSA’s marketing portfolio in New York. Gross previously was with Publicis New York.  

Iris has promoted Marie Davidheiser to CEO North America. Previously she was managing director, New York.   The post has been vacant since Jeremy Cochran moved into a global client growth role in December 2015. “The U.S. is the biggest and toughest opportunity we have," says global CEO Ian Millner, to whom Davidheiser reports. Davidheiser will also take a position on Iris’ global exec board alongside co-founders Millner, Steve Bell, and Claire Humphris, chief creative officer Shaun McIlrath and executive planning director Ben Essen. Last month Iris announced a major brand overhaul. 

Publicis New York has appointed Paul Renner to the new role of executive vice president, global creative director, on the Citi account. He reports directly to Andy Bird, chief creative officer, Publicis New York. "We’re building an exciting team here in New York, a mix of rising stars blended and partnered with experienced talent," says Bird. Previously Renner was executive creative director at KBS and prior to that was global creative director on the Budweiser account at Anomaly. Earlier stops included Arnold and Wieden + Kennedy.  

Horizon Media has hired Julie Levin as executive vice president managing partner, client services and business development. Levin will be based in the agency’s Los Angeles office and report to Serena Duff, executive vice president general manager, western region.  In this newly created role, Levin is charged with “reimagining” client service, developing business strategies and driving business growth for the shop’s LA office. She will spearhead new business activity and focus on driving innovation and enhanced products and services for Horizon’s clients.  Prior to joining Horizon, Levin was senior vice president business development global partnerships at WME/IMG. Earlier she was chief marketing officer at  Publicis …