MEC, has strengthened its digital and mobile offering with three new senior appointments, including a Head of Mobile Jide Sobo.

Jide, previously Mobile Strategist at Media Brands, will work alongside Justin Taylor, Managing Director, Digital. Mobile is an ongoing priority for MEC in 2012, and Jide brings twelve years of mobile experience to the agency.  He will be responsible for driving the growth of the channel.

With nine years’ experience in research, and previously holding the Digital Research Director role at Media Planning Group, Emma Ellis has been hired as Social Insight Director.  Emma will be working closely with MEC’s Analytics and Insight department to develop its social insight and support the planning process.  This will enable the agency to create social strategies for its clients based on in-depth analysis to achieve greater ROI.

James Graver joins a team of four digital strategists, who drive cutting-edge digital and innovation strategies for MEC’s clients. Previously Digital Account Manager and then Ideation Strategist at UM London, James brings experience in developing creative strategies across multi-channel campaigns. 

Justin Taylor, Managing Director, Digital at MEC said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming Jide, Emma and James to the MEC team. They are top talent and their complementary expertise will be a great addition to our experience in the areas when clients are seeking leadership: namely insight, social, strategy and mobile.”

New York :News Corporation today named Lex Fenwick Chief Executive Officer of Dow Jones & Company. Mr. Fenwick joins Dow Jones from Bloomberg LP, where he spent 25 years, most recently as CEO of Bloomberg Ventures. He will be based in New York and report to Chase Carey, President and COO of News Corporation. His appointment is effective February 13, 2012.

He succeeds Les Hinton, who left the Company in July.

"Lex has been a driving force in the financial news and information industry for more than two decades," commented Mr. Carey. "His aggressive and bold leadership will be invaluable to Dow Jones at a time when digital technologies are making information ever more important. We have a great opportunity to build enormous value around Dow Jones' unique expertise and franchises.

Mr. Carey added, "I want to thank Dow Jones President Todd Larsen for his leadership during this transition and look forward to continuing to work with him."

Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation Chairman and CEO, commented: "We have clearly established WSJ as the premium consumer newspaper and we are thrilled that Lex will be driving our plans to grow all our Dow Jones franchises into true innovative market leaders for today's digital world. We believe our enterprise business has the potential to follow the brand's success in the consumer space, and be the premier product in providing the kind of hard-to-find, premium content that the financial customer demands. We are committed to making it happen and we think Lex is the executive to get us there."

Mr. Fenwick commented, "I'm honored and excited to join Dow Jones at such a transformational time. The people, brands and franchises give us a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop new elements that we hope will reap rewards in the future. Over 25 years at Bloomberg I have made many friends, learned an enormous amount, witnessed wonderful success and — above all else – experienced incredible loyalty. I am proud of what we built together."

Mr. Fenwick joined Bloomberg in 1987, where his first assignment was helping launch the Bloomberg Professional service in the UK and Europe. He later became manager of Bloomberg operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where sales outpaced the rest of the world under his leadership. In 2000, he was named manager of global sales and the following year he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Bloomberg LP, working alongside founder Michael Bloomberg. When Mr. Bloomberg ran for Mayor in 2001, Mr. Fenwick became CEO of Bloomberg LP. During his seven years as CEO, Bloomberg not only increased its terminal base to 285,000 worldwide, but also launched many new businesses and innovations.

Mr. Fenwick founded Bloomberg Ventures in July 2008. The unit was designed to explore opportunities to enhance, expand, and diversify Bloomberg products. In 2009, Bloomberg Ventures launched Bloomberg Link to produce invitation-only, in-person gatherings that combine world-class editorial with peer-to-peer networking within influential communities.

Berlin: Predictive Behavioural Targeting market leaders, nugg.ad, have appointed Uli Heimann to the newly created position of Director of Data Solutions. Based from Hamburg, Heimann is assuming responsibility for the development of the nugg.ad Data Solutions product range. 

The German Digital Industry Association (BVDW, Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft) has also selected Heimann to head up the Unit Targeting division. Over the next two years, Heimann’s role within the German targeting sector will cover everything from data protection to market development and public information. Active in the targeting sector since 2007, Heimann was previously the Director of International Consulting for nugg.ad in Hamburg until now. Prior to that he headed up the nugg.ad Consulting division in the Berlin office.

"I am delighted about the confidence nugg.ad have invested in me. This year will without doubt bea year of significant challenges for the targeting sector, both from the point of view of data protection as well as managing continuing rapid growth", says Uli Heimann, Director of Data Solutions at nugg.ad and Head of Unit Targeting at BVDW . "My roles at nugg.ad and the BVDW will now give me the opportunity to help develop the sector from two vantage points".

"Uli Heimann has extensive expertise in the field of targeting, which he has demonstrated throughout his various positions at nugg.ad.  This is why we are appointing him as Director of Data Solutions, an absolutely key role for us in terms of company strategy", Stephan Noller, CEO of nugg.ad and Chairman of the Policy Committee at IAB Europe adds. "With him in charge, the Unit Targeting division of the BVDW is now in a very strong position." 

nugg.ad has made a significant contribution to the development of the BVDW Unit Targeting division since its inception. nugg.ad’s Dr. Bernd Henning headed up the division between 2008 and 2010. In addition, alongside his work in the field of targeting at the BVDW in Germany, Stephan Noller represents the interests of the online industry at a European level; at IAB Europe he is Chairman of the Policy Committee in Brussels.

Sasha Savic, a global media agency executive with extensive experience in the U.S. and overseas today was named CEO of MediaCom USA, a new position.

The announcement was made by MediaCom North America CEO Harvey Goldhersz, who also serves as Vice Chairman, Worldwide Chief Operating Officer of MediaCom Worldwide.

"Ever since I became CEO of MediaCom North America a year ago, I knew I wanted to name a CEO for our U.S. operations," Goldhersz said in making the announcement.  "I'm very happy to announce today that we've found precisely the right person for this important new position.  Sasha is a strategic thinker and innovator with exactly the kind of extensive media agency credentials that MediaCom needs to lead our U.S. operation as we plan for 2012 and beyond."

Goldhersz added that Savic will officially join the agency and begin work in early spring.

As head of MediaCom USA, Savic will be responsible for the overall product, management and operation of all MediaCom activities in four U.S. cities, overseeing an agency with an estimated 700 employees and $6.4 billion in billings, according to RECMA.  He will be based in the agency's New York office and will report to Goldhersz.

Prior to joining MediaCom, Savic worked as Chief Operating Officer for Havas Media Group North America, the parent of media services agency MPG, among other companies.  In that role he was responsible for the overall business performance across all segments of Havas Media Group in the U.S. and Canada and orchestrated significant revenue growth through a series of new business wins.

Savic also worked as an EVP, Global Managing Director, for SMG/Publicis Groupe from 2006-2010 where he played a key role in managing the agency's global Procter & Gamble business, including overseeing planning and buying assignments in 70-plus countries.  His international experience also includes working from 1992-2006 at Universal McCann in Europe and the U.S.  In that role, his client list included Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Lucent Technologies, ExxonMobil, Intel, MasterCard and Brown-Forman, among others.

A native of Bosnia, Savic began his career as a founding member and producer of Youth Radio, the first independent radio station, in the former Yugoslavia.  He studied Mechanical Engineering and Film Making at University of Sarajevo and actively supports environmental causes and sustainability through participation in NASF and ASF in North America.

London : Ogilvy & Mather has appointed Brian McCarter to the newly created role of Global Brand Management Head of Planning for Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME). In this role, Brian will be responsible for overseeing strategy across the agency’s key global accounts with a primary focus on Unilever. He will also be tasked with chairing an EAME Planning Council, spearheading strategic development and initiatives across the network.

Brian returns to Ogilvy & Mather nearly 20 years to the day since he first joined the London office in 1992, when he headed up planning on the Seagram account globally and worked with Kimberly Clark and Unilever Foods in the UK. He was appointed to the agency’s Board in 1993.

Prior to joining O&M most recently, Brian spent 10 years building a successful freelance planning practice in New York, where he worked with a number of advertising agencies including O&M, and directly with clients including Diageo, Philips, Unilever and Absolut.

Colin Mitchell, Worldwide Head of Planning commented: “Brian is a world class planner. He played a vital role in our success on the SCJ and Philips pitches last year and has helped us substantially on Pond’s, Dove and American Express. Everyone who works with Brian praises his subtle insight and ability to get to the very heart of brands.”

Speaking about his new role, Brian commented: “I’ve had the opportunity to dip into a number of agencies over the past ten years, but Ogilvy has always felt like home.  It has a deeper and richer planning culture than any other agency I know, and I can’t wait to work with planners across the region to make a real difference on the big, global accounts.”

Brian also spent two years at Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) where he was predominantly responsible for Unilever’s personal care business.

Setting the benchmark for creative excellence in communications, the International Festival of Creativity – Cannes Lions – will reward creativity in branded content & entertainment, defined as the creation of, or natural integration into, original content by a brand. Avi Savar, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Big Fuel, a full-service global social media marketing and communications company based in New York that takes brands from content to commerce, will chair the inaugural Branded Content & Entertainment Lions jury.

The purpose of branded content and entertainment is to deliver marketing messages by engaging consumers via relevant content platforms rather than traditional advertising methods.

Entrants to the Branded Content & Entertainment Lions category will demonstrate how a brand has successfully worked independently or in association with a content producer or publisher to develop and create or co-create entertaining and engaging content for their audience. This could be either by creating original content or programming for a brand or by naturally integrating a brand into existing formats by partnering with a publisher or media partner.

Entries should demonstrate how consumer insight successfully integrated into original content drives audience engagement and creates synergy across paid, owned and earned media.

Entries to Branded Content & Entertainment Lions might leverage a single media channel, such as web video or broadcast, but may also use multiple platforms to deliver content to audiences across various channels, including: radio, magazines, books, gaming, music, video, mobile, social, community, blogs, experiential events, and more.

Since the use of branded content & entertainment differs from one country to another, entrants will be required to describe the current situation around branded content & entertainment in their country or the region where the campaign appeared, including any restrictions or regulations imposed by TV stations, broadcasting companies, government or other regulating body.

The first Branded Content & Entertainment Lions jury will be chaired by Avi Savar, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Big Fuel, who will lead nine branded content & entertainment experts from around the world. Avi launched Big Fuel, a pure-play social media agency designed for the needs of large brands, in 2004. What started as a one-man “branded content studio” has today grown into the largest social media agency in the world – with clients that include: T-Mobile, Sherton, Westin, Starwood Preferred Guest, The Children’s Place, Nurtisystem, Bacardi, Gore-Tex, Citi, Clorox, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Philips. In June 2011, Avi led Big Fuel to a successful acquisition by French media giant Publicis Groupe thus giving Big Fuel a global footprint and making it the most dominant social media agency worldwide.

Avi Savar has spent his professional career connecting with and motivating audiences through content. He has created highly stylised programming for companies such as USA Networks, Fox, USA, Columbia Tri-Star, and Showtime Networks. Prior to launching Big Fuel, Avi served as a Producer for ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ before being tapped to create and develop breakthrough entertainment-based programming for both MTV Networks and VH1.

"The International Festival of Creativity at Cannes is the premier advertising award show. I'm honoured and excited to participate and look forward to the celebration of branded content & entertainment as part of it," said Avi upon his appointment. "As Jury President I hope to guide the process in a way that will inspire people to create innovative and immersive content."

Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions commented, "Branded content & entertainment has become key to brand communication that creatively engages with consumers. Therefore to include it in Cannes Lions is important not only for the continued development of the Festival as a global celebration of creativity in communications, but to also give due recognition of the convergence of marketing and entertainment."

"We are delighted to count on the expertise of Avi Savar, an innovator whose work continues to influence the shape of brand communications, media and customer engagement, to guide and set the standard of this new category in its inaugural year," he continued.

The Branded Content & Entertainment Lions winners will be announced on Saturday 23 June, in Cannes, alongside the Film, Craft, Titanium and Integrated winners. Additional information on Branded Content & Entertainment Lions will be available when entries open on 26 January.

Branded Content & Entertainment, together with the already announced new Mobile Lions section, brings the total number of Cannes Lions awards categories to 15.

Sunnyvale: Yahoo! Inc. , the premier digital media company, today announced that Jerry Yang has resigned from its Board of Directors and all other positions with the company, effective today. In addition, Yang resigned from the Boards of Yahoo Japan Corporation and Alibaba Group Holding Limited, effective today.

In a letter to the Yahoo! Board Chairman Roy Bostock, Yang wrote: "My time at Yahoo!, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. However, the time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo! As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future."

Yang co-founded Yahoo! Inc. in 1995 with David Filo and served as a member of the Board of Directors since March 1995 and as Chief Executive Officer from June 2007 to January 2009. The Company went public in 1996.

"Jerry Yang is a visionary and a pioneer, who has contributed enormously to Yahoo! during his many years of service," said Roy Bostock, Chairman of the Yahoo! Board. "It has been a pleasure to work with Jerry. His unique strategic insights have been invaluable. He has always remained focused on the best interests of Yahoo!'s stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and more than 700 million users. And while I and the entire Board respect his decision, we will miss his remarkable perspective, vision and wise counsel. On behalf of the Board, we thank Jerry and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors."

Bostock concluded, "We appreciate Jerry's comments and share his enthusiasm for the company's prospects. With Scott Thompson leading an outstanding team of Yahoos to deliver innovative products and an engaging customer experience, Yahoo!'s future is bright."

"I am grateful for the warm welcome and support Jerry provided me during my early days here," said Scott Thompson, Yahoo!'s Chief Executive Officer. "Jerry leaves behind a legacy of innovation and customer focus for this iconic brand, having shaped our culture by fostering a spirit of innovation that began 17 years ago and continues to grow even stronger today. Jerry has great confidence in the future of Yahoo!, and I share his confidence in the enormous potential of Yahoo! in the days ahead."
 

Brussels : Ogilvy Public Relations (Ogilvy PR), a leading global multi-disciplinary communications and advocacy firm, today announced the appointment of Nicolas Acker as European Public Affairs Director, based in Brussels. Nicolas will lead the expansion of Ogilvy’s growing EU public affairs hub, reporting to Ogilvy PR/Brussels Managing Director Jeff Chertack.

This appointment, effective immediately, marks the latest step in Ogilvy PR’s public affairs growth strategy in the region. It follows public affairs veteran Jeff Chertack’s relocation from Washington, DC, and the hire of Downing Street veteran Iain Bundred to London as Director of Strategic Media Relations.

“These actions confirm the agency’s commitment to strategically focus on strengthening our public affairs offer at a time when, more than ever, there is a need for an effective dialogue between the private sector and the political arena,” noted Chertack, to whom Acker will report. “Having a world-class professional heading the public affairs operations in Brussels is crucial for our office and we warmly welcome him on board.”

Acker, a French national, is a seasoned and highly respected public affairs practitioner with an in-depth knowledge of the EU scene and a strong network. He joins most recently from the EU public affairs consultancy Cabinet DN. Acker previously served in the public affairs practice at Weber Shandwick. He brings more than a decade of experience in European public affairs, with specific hands-on expertise in the EU energy-environment-transport policy triptych, the agro-food sector, the security and defense industry and sport-related dossiers.

Commenting on his appointment, Nicolas said: “I am proud to join such a renowned and acclaimed global agency. I look forward to working with Ogilvy PR’s multi-disciplinary team of experts and to contribute to the further build up of the company’s public affairs offer in Europe.”

Jamie Moeller, Managing Director of the firm’s Global Public Affairs Practice, added, “Brussels is a strategic priority for Ogilvy PR and a critical link in our global network; we are delighted that Nicolas has decided to join us at this crucial stage for the growth of our public affairs offering in Europe.”

In addition to developing the Brussels public affairs business, Nicolas will work within the Ogilvy & Mather European network to identify and develop public policy opportunities for Group clients. He will support Chertack and Moeller in connecting Brussels with the political hubs of Washington and Beijing.

Nicolas is a graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg and holds post-graduate degrees in European affairs from the University of Paris III, in international administration from the University of Paris II and in international and strategic affairs from the University of Paris XIII.

Ogilvy PR/Brussels recently won the 2011 European Excellence Award in Public Affairs for its “All to Nagoya” campaign for WWF Belgium.

New York : Lisa Hearst Hagerman, 48, has been named a director of The Hearst Corporation and, in a separate action, has been elected a testamentary trustee of the trust established under the will of William Randolph Hearst. The announcement was made today by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., CEO of Hearst Corporation, and George R. Hearst, Jr., chairman of the Board of Directors.

Hagerman, a great-granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, succeeds her father, the late John R. Hearst, Jr., in both positions.

The Hearst Corporation, one of the nation’s largest diversified media companies, is owned by The Hearst Family Trust. Among other responsibilities, the 13 trustees elect members to the Corporation's Board of Directors.

With Hagerman’s election, the trustees of The Hearst Family Trust are: James M. Asher; David J. Barrett; Anissa B. Balson; Bennack; John G. Conomikes; Ronald J. Doerfler; Hagerman; George R. Hearst, Jr.; William R. Hearst III; Harvey L. Lipton; Gilbert C. Maurer; Mark F. Miller; and Virginia Hearst Randt.

Hagerman is an associate editor of House Beautiful, having also worked as a promotion coordinator at County Living. A graduate of the Chapin School and Connecticut College, she is the mother of three children and is married to George Hagerman. The family resides in California.

New York City :Linda Wu, most recently EVP, Strategic Operations & Project Management Office of Draftfcb’s global network, has been named the chief operating officer for the agency’s general advertising and Healthcare operating units in new York City.

In her new role, Wu will be accountable for proper operational controls, business processes and systems that effectively position the agency for strategic growth, exceptional delivery management, and client satisfaction and longevity.

Since assuming her corporate role at Draftfcb in 2006, and dating back to when she first joined what was then known as Draft Worldwide in 2002, Wu has been a highly valued member of the agency’s corporate leadership team. “Linda is smart, strategic and knows our company inside and out. She has a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma and she understands the big picture as well as the importance of details. She is passionately committed to the success of this agency and is also one of the hardest-working people you will ever meet,” said Draftfcb New York and Healthcare CEO Dana Maiman.

Prior to joining Draftfcb, Wu was Executive Producer for Omnicom’s boutique digital shop, Organic NY. Her projects ranged from integrated online advertising programs to complex Web sites for clients in travel, retail, financial services, utilities and the U.S. government.

Harold Corbran, who most recently played a dual role as COO and chief innovation officer for Draftfcb’s New York-based agencies, informed Maiman in mid-2011 of his desire to make some changes in his very busy life, and focus on the latter role going forward.

“Harold has played a huge role in our success to date. The Draftfcb Healthcare family is not only surging, we have created highly successful agencies and operating units in their own right. Much credit is due to Harold’s vision and operational fortitude,” said Maiman.  “As we dive into 2012, we are extremely fortunate that he will remain part of our leadership team as chief innovation officer.  He will continue to develop innovative ideas and solutions for Draftfcb’s clients, and one of his primary assignments will be to ensure the successful expansion of our healthcare properties globally.”