Indiantelevision.com Team

(6 October 2008 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has formed a new global management team.

SMG CEO Laura Desmond said that the team will consist of 10 executive leaders through out the organistaion who will join SMG president of global operations Andrew Swinand and newly appointed chief digital officer Sean Finnegan.

Desmond says, "The talented team of leaders I have identified will help us move more aggressively, ensuring we become the preferred client partner in every market we do business."

Marston Allen is now global director of business development and marketing. Earlier, he was director of new business at MediaVest in New York. Prior to joining SMG, Allen worked for Universal McCann.

Bernard Bedon is appointed as global director, talent and innovation. Bedon was most working as recently global chief talent officer for Publics Groupe Media. He is based in New York.

Matt Blackborn is global director, technology accounts. Blackborn led SMG's Middle Eastern network in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, he was tapped to serve as Global Client Services director for SMG, focusing on business development with key clients.

Dan Mattei is the global brand CFO. He has partnered with Desmond for six years as CFO of MediaVest and then SMG's Americas operations. In this role, he will partner with VivaKi CFOs across the network to ensure a strong SMG brand.

Kate Sirkin is EVP/director of SMG's Global Research. Sirkin came to SMG by way of Leo Burnett London, where she joined as research director in 1988. She has led SMG's global research initiatives since 2003.

The SMG leadership team will work closely with the company's regional leadership, including SMG Europe/Middle East and Africa CEO Iain Jacob, SMG Latin America CEO Martha Marin and CEOs Ravi Kiran and Paul Maher who share responsibility for Asia.

Desmond adds, "Global connectivity is a core operating principle for SMG. This team will focus on deploying the strengths of the network like never before. They will leverage client relationships, unify our face to market, and elevate our offering in every market where we do business."