by Steve McClellan on Mar 30, 9:57 AM
Santa Monica-based independent agency RPA has hired Cliff Atkinson for the role of senior vice president, executive director, digital media, a new role at the agency. Atkinson will lead RPA’s digital media practice, including strategy, social, programmatic, search and ad operations. He will also partner with other teams at the agency to further develop its suite of offerings. He reports to executive vice president, chief media officer Jim Helberg. Atkinson comes to RPA from Saatchi & Saatchi L.A., where he held a similar role leading its digital strategy and investment practice. Prior to his more than 12 years at …
by Steve McClellan on Mar 29, 12:24 PM
Ebiquity has hired Martin Vinter as its new UK media practice lead taking over for Judith Warn-Ford who will now provide freelance consulting for the agency. Joining in April, Vinter brings a wealth of senior-level media experience to his new position. He has worked in media for over 15 years, most recently at ID Comms, and founded The Marketing and Media Group, a digital marketing and media consultancy. Prior to that, he worked at a number of media agencies including Mindshare, iProspect, MediaCom and Razorfish. Vinter will be responsible for managing Ebiquity's UK media business unit, overseeing a team of …
by Steve McClellan on Mar 28, 10:29 AM
WPP digital agency Mirum has hired former Candyspace North America CEO, Greg Crockart to manage one of Mirum’s largest clients, Qualcomm. Separately Michelle Zimmerman has been tapped to lead the Epson, Royal Caribbean Cruises and W.K. Kellogg Foundation accounts. Both will serve as business directors. Candyspace is a creative technology shop and cross-screen activation specialist that is part of WPP’s Tenthavenue group. Crockart joined as NA CEO in 2015. Prior to that, he spent a year as co-president for mobile specialist agency, Joule, where he led the Paramount Pictures business. Before that he spent time at mobile-focused agency, Flytxt, delivering …
by Steve McClellan on Mar 28, 8:15 AM
Portland, ME-based The VIA Agency has appointed Brian Demick client strategy lead to work on a range of accounts, including home improvement retailer Lowe’s which appointed VIA to its agency roster earlier this year. In his new role, Demick will report to Dan Bailin, director of client strategy. Most recently, Demick was director of brand, digital & direct at Havas Worldwide in Boston where he led marketing strategy and integrated campaign development for Liberty Mutual. “As we begin our work with Lowe’s, Brian will add great value to starting the partnership with fierce collaboration and trust from day one,” stated …
by Steve McClellan on Mar 26, 2:58 PM
CP+B Boulder, part of MDC Partners, has hired Trisha Ramdoo as director of business affairs and Johan Eghammer as executive creative director. Ramdoo comes to CP+B after nine years at TBWA/Media Arts Lab where she was group director of business affairs. She began her career as a commercial and intellectual property lawyer in London. She also serves as director of business affairs for the ADCAN Awards, which honors unsigned filmmakers who make commercials for selected charities. She also participates in AdColor and GLAAD to help promote diversity within advertising. Eghammer has joined the agency after spending the past 23 years …
by Steve McClellan on Mar 23, 2:38 PM
Omnicom’s Hall & Partners has appointed Gabrielle Bell as their new CEO of Europe. Previously Bell was chief strategy officer at M&C Saatchi, where she is credited with contributing to high-profile campaigns including: Change4Life which encourages children to adopt a healthier diet, winning a Cannes Lion for the campaign ad; TFL’s award-winning The Tortoise and the Hare campaign which addresses teenage road safety; and Unilever’s Impulse body spray. Bell will be based in London.
by Steve McClellan on Mar 22, 11:34 AM
Vivaldi, the New York City-based brand strategy and consulting firm has appointed Tom Ajello as a senior partner and its first chief creative officer. In his new role Ajello will lead the firm’s design-focused team of creatives and technologists. In the past he helmed major creative products for firms including Bosch Siemens, Coach, Sephora, British Airways, Jet, Cognizant, eTrade, The Weather Channel, MoMA, Dyson, Nickelodeon, Johnson & Johnson, Uniqlo, IBM, and Google.
by Steve McClellan on Mar 21, 10:44 AM
Fetch, the Dentsu Aegis shop that bills itself as a “global mobile-first agency” has promoted Guillaume Lelait to U.S. CEO, a new role at the agency. Previously Lelait was U.S. managing director. In addition to overseeing all U.S. operations, Lelait will take on increased responsibility for the alignment of Fetch’s “mobile first” approach within Dentsu Aegis Network Americas. His new remit also includes evaluating potential acquisition targets that could broaden the range of the agency’s client services. “Under Guillaume’s leadership the agency has achieved phenomenal growth while booking landmark digital economy business including Facebook, Mozilla, Hulu and Expedia,” stated James …
by Larissa Faw on Mar 20, 9:26 AM
Publicis Groupe is turning the tables on consulting shops that poach talent from agenies by appointing consulting veteran Teresa Barreira as the new chief marketing officer of the Groupe's Publicis.Sapient unit. She will be responsible for the digitally-focused division's global marketing, including market strategy, client experience, brand and corporate communications, across 100-plus offices. She will also serve on the Publicis.Sapient Executive Leadership Team, reporting to fellow Committee member Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis.Sapient International. She previously served as chief marketing officer for Deloitte, and before that, she spent time at Accenture and IBM. "Her vast experience and …
by Steve McClellan on Mar 19, 1:46 PM
AKQA has promoted Roman Ptakowski to general manager, and Sallie Baskervill to director of client services. Together they will lead the agency’s Atlanta operation. Ptakowski succeeds Erik Rogstad, who is now managing director of the agency’s Washington, D.C. office. Previously Ptakowski was director of client services in Atlanta, overseeing assignments for Delta Air Lines, Universal Parks and Resorts, Coca-Cola and Chick-fil-A. Baskervill succeeds Ptakowski and joined AKQA in 2013 to manage the Delta Air Lines account.