New Starcom Role to Integrate Consumer Thinking

Jana O'Brien is to move from her role at GM Planworks to a new global role within parent firm Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), as EVP, Chief Consumer Officer. O'Brien will lead the network's consumer context planning (CCP) across all client brands.

Reporting directly to SMG's global CEO, Renetta McCann and operating out of Chicago, O'Brien will spearhead a new business building on the insight and research methods she developed at GM Planworks. In addition, she is charged with propagating a consumer-based perspective on emerging digital media across the firm, based on the work of it Consumer Context Planning unit.

At GM Planworks she focused on the car giant's media planning and created research disciplines to focus strategic consumer, brand and media insights on media challenges. Prior to joining GM Planworks in 2000, she worked in research and account planning at Leo Burnett USA for 19 years, rising to EVP/Managing Planning Director and Director of the agency's research services group. She is also an expert on youth research.

'Jana continues to build on her passion for discovering fresh consumer trends, insights and strategies to media challenges' comments McCann. 'This new position will provide for greater quality and depth of human insight articulation across all brands within the global SMG network.'

SMG's group home page is at www.smvgroup.com .

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

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