Digital Marketing People on the Move: Feb 2014 Roundup

February saw a series of new hires and promotions in the digital marketing industry , including Tumblr's first director of media and IAB's new executive vice president.

February was awash with new hires and promotions in the digital marketing industry. It started with YouTube’s new chief executive (CEO) Susan Wojcicki, and ended with Tumblr’s first director of media Sima Sistani.

Sima Sistani Takes a Newly Created Position at Tumblr

sima-sistani-1                                          Credit: LinkedIn

Yahoo-owned blogging site Tumblr, named Sima Sistani its first director of media. In her new role, Sistani will spearhead Tumblr’s initiative to develop strategic partnerships with entertainment and media properties. She will be based in San Francisco.

Sistani joined Yahoo in November 2011 and most recently served as director of mobile growth operations. Prior to Yahoo, she co-founded social TV start-up Rogue Paper. She also worked for talent agency CAA’s film unit from 2003 to 2006.

Mike Zaneis, New Executive Vice President at IAB

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The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) promoted Mike Zaneis to executive vice president and general counsel from senior vice president and general counsel. In his new role, Zaneis will continue to head the IAB Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C., which he opened seven years ago. He will be in charge of critical issues heard from IAB members, including consumer privacy, data security, and free trade. He will also join IAB’s top-level management team.

With 20 years of government affairs experience, Zaneis previously worked for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he served as executive director of technology and e-commerce, dealing with issues affecting the business community. He received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, as well as a Juris Doctor and master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University.

Four Key Hires at The Woo

The Woo, a creative marketing and advertising agency, announced four key hires: Doug Finelli as vice president and group creative director, Jeff Heath as creative director, Mike Rose as media director, and Scott Hieatt as director of interactive.

Before he joined The Woo, Finelli served as creative director at R&R Partners, a Las Vegas-based advertising, marketing, public relations, and public affairs firm. He worked with a broad range of brands, including Suzuki, Kia, and Honda.

Previously, Heath worked for Ogilvy L.A., where he was an associate creative director. Before that, he worked for TBWAChiatDay and Young & Rubicam, where he created campaigns for clients like HTC, Land Rover, and Infiniti.

Rose joined The Woo from TBWAChiatDay, where he was most recently a media director and managed accounts including Sony PlayStation, Nissan, and Pepsi. He also previously worked for BBDO.

Hieatt served as director of production at Serge Media. He was formerly an interactive producer at entertainment company AEG.

Joe Davis, Chief Executive at Webtrends

Webtrends, a digital marketing solution company, named Joe Davis chief executive (CEO). With 25 years of technology experience, Davis will lead the company’s business strategy and worldwide operations.

Previously, Davis was the CEO of Tocata, a technology company specializing in mobile e-commerce. Before that, Davis spearheaded worldwide development, strategy, marketing, and customer support operations for the CRM business arm within PeopleSoft. He was also president of the Nortel Networks eBusiness division. Davis holds a MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Lori Greene to Lead Content Strategy for Maxus North America

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Global media planning and buying agency Maxus has appointed Lori Greene as content director for Maxus North America. In this newly created role, Greene will lead the team to find ways for content to bring the agency’s clients’ communication strategies to life.

Before she joined Maxus, Greene worked for HSM Global, where she served as senior vice president of digital media and content, and was previously an executive producer for BBC America Digital.

Earlier in her career, she held content-oriented roles at Reader’s Digest Association Interactive, A&E TV Network, Court TV Online, and Food Network.

A content veteran in all forms of media, Greene has worked as a senior-level consultant to several organizations since 2009, including Time Inc. Content Solutions, and Columbia University. Most recently, she conducted digital content and marketing strategy for the International Institute for Learning, a business-to-business training company.

In addition, Greene is a constant speaker at industry events and serves as the vice president of programming for NY Women in Communications. She also teaches digital content strategies and social media-related subjects in several institutions in New York.

Three Senior-Level Hires at We Are Social

Global social media agency We Are Social announced three key hires in its New York Office: Nicole Ghobrial as client services director, Benjamin Arnold as group account director, and Grace Gordon as strategy director.

Ghobrial comes to the agency’s New York office from its London headquarters, where she held the same position. As client services director, she will lead client relationships, develop product offerings, and oversee operations.

With more than 10 years of digital marketing and social media experience, Ghobrial has managed strategies for several brands, including Heineken, Heinz, and Unilever. Prior to We Are Social London, she was general manager and led client relationships at Mark, a creative agency in Melbourne, Australia.

As group account director, Arnold will oversee the agency’s accounts and support the continued growth of the New York operation.

Previously, he worked for JWT New York, where he served as account director for two years. Earlier in his career, he worked for Adfero, a SEO specialist agency in London, as well as the Sydney offices of Saatchi & Saatchi and DDB.

Gordon joined We Are Social from a Brooklyn-based digital agency Big Spaceship, where she was part of strategy group. Before relocating to New York, Gordon took social strategy roles at OMD Melbourne and Soap Creative in Sydney, where she worked on a range of brands, including Slurpee and Axe.

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