Sharb Farjami will take the reins of the North American operations of GroupM, the media-investment giant that is part of Wpp.
Farjami had been CEO of North American for Wavemaker, one of the big media-buying units of GroupM. “Sharb is a hands-on, collaborative leader and a brilliant thinker about the issues shaping the future of our industry,” said GroupM Global CEO Christian Juhl, in a statement. “He brings a diverse range of industry experience to the role having worked both agency and publisher-side in multiple markets around the world and his success leveraging the best of the GroupM platform to drive advantages for Wavemaker’s clients is a model for the future of our organization.”
GroupM said Farjami has “proven track record of scaling new media offerings, operationalizing new capabilities, and leading technology enabled organizations to deliver competitive differentiation for clients.” Prior to joining Wavemaker, Sharb held senior leadership positions at Foxtel,...
Farjami had been CEO of North American for Wavemaker, one of the big media-buying units of GroupM. “Sharb is a hands-on, collaborative leader and a brilliant thinker about the issues shaping the future of our industry,” said GroupM Global CEO Christian Juhl, in a statement. “He brings a diverse range of industry experience to the role having worked both agency and publisher-side in multiple markets around the world and his success leveraging the best of the GroupM platform to drive advantages for Wavemaker’s clients is a model for the future of our organization.”
GroupM said Farjami has “proven track record of scaling new media offerings, operationalizing new capabilities, and leading technology enabled organizations to deliver competitive differentiation for clients.” Prior to joining Wavemaker, Sharb held senior leadership positions at Foxtel,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Kirk McDonald, a veteran ad executive who has served as the face of Wpp’s large GroupM media buying consortium to U.S. advertisers, is leaving the company as it once again sets about to refashion its executive ranks.
McDonald, who joined GroupM in 2020 after a stint at the ad-tech unit known as Xandr, is set to leave at the end of 2023, the Wpp unit confirmed Monday.
“Leading GroupM North America has been an enormous privilege. You are passionate and uncompromising in your pursuit of excellence,” McDonald said in a memo to staffers Monday. “It’s been an honor to be a part of this team leading the way forward with the best in the industry, and a joy to have learned so much from all of you.” There has been speculation in the industry for some time that McDonald might leap to a different executive opportunity.
McDonald is the...
McDonald, who joined GroupM in 2020 after a stint at the ad-tech unit known as Xandr, is set to leave at the end of 2023, the Wpp unit confirmed Monday.
“Leading GroupM North America has been an enormous privilege. You are passionate and uncompromising in your pursuit of excellence,” McDonald said in a memo to staffers Monday. “It’s been an honor to be a part of this team leading the way forward with the best in the industry, and a joy to have learned so much from all of you.” There has been speculation in the industry for some time that McDonald might leap to a different executive opportunity.
McDonald is the...
- 10/30/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Motion Content Group, an industrious producer and co-financier of Love Island, Wynonna Earp and some 1,800 other series globally, is rebranding as GroupM Motion Entertainment in North America.
The move comes amid a broader pivot toward premium programming.
Motion Content, already well-established in more than two dozen territories, made a major push into the U.S. several years ago, with CEO Richard Foster relocating from London to LA. Those efforts took shape just before Covid upended the production sector.
GroupM Motion Entertainment will be co-led by Foster, Global CEO GroupM Motion Entertainment, and Kirk McDonald, CEO GroupM North America.
Beginning in 2009 as GroupM Entertainment, the unit initially worked with broadcasters such as Viacom’s Channel 5, then owned by controversial British media baron Richard Desmond, to pay for a range of factual and entertainment titles. Multi-faceted deals were structured by covered advertising and international ancillary arrangements. It then moved into drama,...
The move comes amid a broader pivot toward premium programming.
Motion Content, already well-established in more than two dozen territories, made a major push into the U.S. several years ago, with CEO Richard Foster relocating from London to LA. Those efforts took shape just before Covid upended the production sector.
GroupM Motion Entertainment will be co-led by Foster, Global CEO GroupM Motion Entertainment, and Kirk McDonald, CEO GroupM North America.
Beginning in 2009 as GroupM Entertainment, the unit initially worked with broadcasters such as Viacom’s Channel 5, then owned by controversial British media baron Richard Desmond, to pay for a range of factual and entertainment titles. Multi-faceted deals were structured by covered advertising and international ancillary arrangements. It then moved into drama,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
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