GroupM Strengthens Management

WPP's media management unit GroupM has promoted CFO Rupert Day to the new post of global COO, and Marc Goldstein to CEO for North America. Scott Neslund and Lisa Weinstein are also promoted.

GroupM manages the media networks Maxus, MediaCom, Mediaedge:cia and MindShare.

Day's new role will include working with WPP senior management to explore and develop new business opportunities, acquisitions and joint ventures worldwide. A UK chartered accountant with experience in investment banking, he joined WPP in 1988 to work on acquisitions and investor relations, and was part of the management team for the global launch of MindShare. He was made GroupM CFO in 2003.

GroupM Chief Executive Irwin Gotlieb, to whom Day reports, says the appointment recognises that Day has been 'de-facto COO for quite some time now' – but combining these duties with 'the heavy responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer... is simply too much of a load for one person.' He adds that the move 'recognizes the need for a deeper management structure at GroupM.'

Goldstein will share management responsibilities with current GroupM Chief Investment Officer Rino Scanzoni. Prior to joining MindShare in November 2000, Goldstein was Executive VP, Managing Director at GM Mediaworks, where he managed the global car company's $1 billion national broadcast media account. Scanzoni retains responsibility for media negotiation strategy, media research, marketplace analytics, and media content investments.

'This is a great day for GroupM' comments Gotlieb. 'Marc's wide range of experience will help raise GroupM's services to a new level in North America. Our plan is to build GroupM's profile and function throughout the region, and this is a major step toward achieving that goal.'

Goldstein will be succeeded as president-CEO of MindShare North America by Scott Neslund, currently MD of the media agency's Chicago office. Lisa Weinstein, currently Senior Partner, Strategic Planning Director, steps into Neslund's shoes in Chicago.

Web sites: www.wpp.com , www.mindshareworld.com and www.groupm.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.