VivaKi Fills Nerve Center Leadership Role

Publicis Groupe company VivaKi has named Kurt Unkel as President of its digital media and marketing solutions division Nerve Center, replacing the departing Curt Hecht.

Hecht is joining The Weather Channel Companies as Chief Global Revenue Officer.

Unkel has worked at Publicis Groupe for more than a decade, most recently as EVP and General Manager of the Nerve Center's Audience on Demand practice. Previously he created and led strategy, analytics and operations teams across the Groupe, with a particular focus on General Motors. In his new role he reports directly to Global CEO Frank Voris, as well as working with Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Rishad Tobaccowala.

VivaKi CEO Jack Klues comments: 'Curt Hecht has built a strong foundation for the VivaKi Nerve Center, and Kurt Unkel is just the right person to drive our vision forward.'

R&D unit The Nerve Center is dedicated to creating new technologies and approaches to help connect client brands with audiences in 'scalable, efficient and compelling ways'. Services include The Pool, which brings together clients, agencies and media partners to test and create new advertising models; Audience On Demand, which combines bid management technology, proprietary media and data partnerships, and specialist consultancy on display media; search strategy tracker Benchtools; data aggregation and digital campaign management tool Campaigns On Demand; and Insights On Demand, a suite of analytical tools giving a 'comprehensive', cross-platform picture of a client's marketing performance.

Nerve Center has also appointed Sean Kegelman as EVP of Partnerships, leading relations with firms including Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL and Facebook; and promoted Marco Bertozzi to Executive MD of its EMEA business, focused on expansion throughout the region.

Web site: www.vivaki.com/about/nerve-center .