Laura Desmond - AgencySpy

VivaKi to Spin Off into Separate Business Unit

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:25:57 +0000

Don’t worry, Publicis Groupe’s four-year-old VivaKi division, which includes Digitas, Razorfish, Starcom MediaVest Group ZenithOptimedia and most recently LBi, will remain within the fold but not so attached at the hip. The world’s third-largest agency holding company has announced that VivaKi will become a separate business unit, still reporting to Publicis Groupe boss Maurice Levy, but one that will now be opened to all PG agencies, in turn extending the offerings of the Nerve Center, including AOD and the Pool, to clients of Publicis Groupe and ultimately to clients outside of the Groupe.

Says Levy in a statement, “The Nerve Center has been one of the most successful accomplishments of VivaKi. Still the only operation of its kind in our industry, it brings strategic innovations to life by leveraging the collective influence of its agencies. It allows us to create world class offerings in the Center rather than building duplicate capabilities inside each agency. Efficient innovation is its hallmark. All CEOs and leaders will immediately engage VivaKi to leverage its products and services, and to create blueprints for new tools and technologies that will make us stronger, more efficient and more imaginative partners to our clients.”

As far as leadership goes, VivaKi CEO Jack Klues is phasing out of his position at the agency after 35 years as he plans to retire at the end of this year (can’t blame him), though he will stay on through the first half of 2013 to ease the transition. The new VivaKi unit’s executive will consist of SMG CEO Laura Desmond, Razorfish CEO Bob Lord, current VivaKi CFO Frank Voris and ZenithOptimedia’s chief exec, Steve King.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Monday Morning Stir

Kiran Aditham — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:43:00 +0000

-Starcom MediaVest Group global CEO Laura Desmond was named vice chair of the board of directors of the Ad Council.

-Seattle shop Frank Unlimited replaced Susana Cascais with Dave Abrass as managing director. Cascais is heading back to her native Portugal for family reasons.

-Farfar alum and current McCann Europe chief innovation officer Matias Palm-Jensen will serve as jury president for Digital Asia Festival, which just kicked off its preliminary judging. link

-Business Insider has ranked its top 15 “marketing strategy thinkers” based on influence. link

-Grey has bought up Dusseldorf-based digital media agency, k102. link

-DDB New York puts first-world problems in check in a new campaign for “Water is Life” (above).

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Terkelsen Takes CEO Post at MediaVest

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:46:14 +0000

Nine-year Starcom MediaVest Group vet Brian Terkelsen has been promoted to CEO of New York-based MediaVest USA. Terkelsen (pictured) has spent his career at SMG as president of its branded content practice, LiquidThread, which he helped build since joining the Publicis Groupe media company.

The new MediaVest USA chief exec succeeds Bill Tucker, who has spent five years in the role but is now assuming a new position as president, global client operations at SMG. In a statement, SMG CEO Laura Desmond says of Terkelsen, “Brian’s unique content, business-building, and digital marketing background, give him tremendous ability to bring big ideas and to know how to build them, with an eye to innovation and partnerships that drive growth for the agency and our clients.”

In addition to Terkelsen’s promotion, SMG has appointed 13-year veteran Matt Blackborn as EVP, emerging markets.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Rob Reilly to Chair Cannes 2012 Titanium & Integrated Jury

Kiran Aditham — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:05:10 +0000

The Cannes Lions 2012 jury announces roll on, with the latest concerning perhaps one of the most prestigious categories of them all: Titanium and Integrated. Leading the panel as jury president will be CP+B worldwide chief creative officer Rob Reilly, a nine-year vet at the MDC Partners agency who has picked up a Titanium or two along the way including one for Burger King in 2007 (Xbox “King Games”) and Best Buy (for Twelpforce) in 2010. The full Titanium and Integrated Lions lineup is below. We’re sure you’ll recognize a name or two.
Rob Reilly, worldwide CCO, CP+B, Global – Jury President
Mario D’Andrea, partner & CCO, Fischer&Friends, Brazil
Agnello Dias, CCO, Taproot India, India
Laura Desmond, CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group, Global
Andy DiLallo, CCO, Leo Burnett, Australia
Morihiro Harano, CD/founder, PARTY, Japan
Fred Koblinger, CEO, BBDO Group Vienna, Austria
Ted Royer, partner/ECD, Droga5, USA
Rob Schwartz, CCO, TBWA\Chiat\Day, USA
Fernando Vega Olmos, chairman and Worldwide Creative Council chairman, JWT Worldwide, Global

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Wednesday Morning Stir

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:38:16 +0000

-Amazon’s tops while Netflix drops in an online retail consumer satisfaction study of the holiday shopping season. link

-Google has launched a viral video battle called YouTube Slam. link

-The spot for Aldi above beat out VW’s “The Force” in a poll of the most popular U.K. adverts of 2011. link

-Shocker: We can expect a bigger, more ad-friendly Twitter come 2o12. link

-Is Starcom MediaVest Group CEO Laura Desmond a “dark horse” candidate for the Yahoo chief exec job? link

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.