People on the move: Hires and departures at Apple, Shazam, ZenithOptimedia and more
The Drum has rounded up the key appointments and departures at brands, media owners and agencies this week.
Apple
Apple has appointed Grey Worldwide’s chief creative officer Tor Myhren to the role of vice president of marketing and communications.
Myhren, who was also president of the agency’s New York shop, will be responsible for Apple's advertising efforts.
His appointment comes at the same time as Jeff Williams’ promotion to the role of chief operating officer, a role that has been empty since Tim Cook became chief executive four years ago.
Shazam
Mobile app Shazam has appointed Greg Glenday as chief revenue officer.
With over 20 years' experience in the ad tech and media industries, Glenday will be tasked with leading the brand's global revenue strategy and creating new ad formats.
He leaves the same role at Undertone following its acquisition by Perion-Glenda, and previously served as president of Clear Channel's Connections division (now iHeartMedia).
ZenithOptimedia
ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, the Publicis-owned media agency, has created a new client leadership team to service its London-based worldwide clients.
The new team will be led by ZenithOptimedia’s global managing partner Belinda Rowe but the changes mean two new ‘managing partners, client solutions, worldwide’ have been created to oversee the ZenithOptimedia Worldwide client teams from London.
Tamina Plum, previously global client services director, and Christian Lee, former group managing partner at ZenithOptimedia UK, will take on the new client-focused roles (pictured).
The restructure of the team means further moves within the group at a senior level. Fraser Heaviside will move from worldwide business director to global client partner, and Grant Millar will have global responsibility for the agency’s growing partnership with Reckitt Benckiser (RB).
Carat
Carat has appointed Dentsu Aegis Network’s Will Swayne to fill the position of global president as Doug Ray steps down to focus on his role as US chief executive of the global media agency.
Swayne is currently serving as Dentsu Aegis Network’s global client president for P&G and will take on his new role on 1 January of next year. He will be tasked with driving Carat’s next phase of global growth and will be based in London.
Zuora
Zuora has appointed former Infoblox vice-president, David Gee, as its chief marketing officer.
The subscription billing, commerce and finance solutions firm has chosen Gee to help drive the company’s subscription economy, corporate and product marketing functions, including brand, communications, events and worldwide go-to-market and demand generation programs.
Gee, the former chief marketing officer and executive vice president at Infoblox, brings more than 20 years' experience in marketing enterprise and mobile computing products and solutions.
Oliver Group
Oliver Group has snapped up Sharon Whale as its new group UK chief executive, charged with leading the group’s UK digital agencies.
Dare, Aylesworth Fleming and Marketing Matters will come under her remit as when she joins the company February 2016.
Whale joins from Proximity where she was deputy chairman, joining the company in 2003.
GQ
Kristen Lazaric has been appointed creative solutions director of GQ, starting the role with immediate effect.
Joining from Net-a-Porter Group where she was group creative solutions director, Lazaric is tasked with developing client partnerships and native advertising for the publication.
LiquidThread
LiquidThread, Starcom Mediavest Group’s branded content division has appointed Claire Mason as head of SEO.
In her new role, Mason will be responsible for growing LiquidThread’s SEO across the wider agency.
Previously Mason led the search department at digital agency Positive.
StartJG
Strategic brand design agency StartJG has bolstered its senior management team with a slew of appointments.
Joining is Ed Jean as client development partner, Paul Allen as strategy director and Dan Fernandez as creative director.
The trio were even more creative weight into StartJG’s offering to promote iving strategic growth opportunities ahead of 2016.
Xaxis
Programmatic platform Xaxis has promoted Matt Sweeney to chief executive, seeing him rise up from his role of senior vice president of client engagement at the company.
Succeeding Brian Gleason who has been promoted to global chief executive officer of Xaxis, Sweeney takes the top spot utilising over 20 years of experience.
He will be responsible for growing the company’s proprietary technology, data, and expertise.
Tata Communications
Tata Communications has wooed one of Microsoft’s top marketers Craig Hepburn to head up its digital marketing.
He will join in mid-January as vice-president of the digital marketing team that sits within the wider marketing department.
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