MEC North America Poised for Success

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 19, 2011) - MEC North America approaches the half-year mark with renewed vigor, structure and talent, strengthening its senior management team, receiving a no. 1 ranking in competitive new business pitches from RECMA and amplifying resources against both analytics and digital, two of the media industry's most important sectors.

In Q1, Lee Doyle, CEO of MEC North America, announced a tighter, more client-centric leadership team with the arrival of star planner Marla Kaplowitz as President of US Client Services from MediaVest where she was EVP, Managing Director, leading the Proctor & Gamble assignment. In this new position, Kaplowitz's heads up current client accounts such as Campbell's, Macy's, Yum! Brands and IKEA, and oversees the agency's communications planning capabilities. Kaplowitz has already made her first major appointment, promoting Mason Franklin, to Managing Director, Engagement Planning. Franklin first joined MEC in 2009 from Starcom MediaVest's GM Planworks.

In addition to adding Kaplowitz to his leadership team, Doyle named MEC veteran Eamonn Store to President of International clients. Store's new role encompasses oversight for the agency's international client coordination hub for North America, 'Global Solutions.' MEC's Global Solutions is the largest international media management hub per RECMA.

"We're thrilled that Marla came on board," said Doyle. "Her experience working with one of the most sophisticated marketers in the world (P&G), has not only helped bring focus and attention to our own strategy and planning resources, but has instilled confidence in the work we're doing for our clients," said Doyle. "With both Marla and Eamonn at the core of our clients' businesses, we are confident that MEC will continue to deliver best-in-class results to our partners."

As part of the agency's mandate to bolster both planning and insights, Theresa LaMontagne has heralded a new approach to Analytics and Insight for the agency. Her previous experience at Yahoo!, as well as Carat, OMD, and Simmons, give her a unique perspective on research. To date LaMontagne has reinvigorated the agency's analytics and insights offering (rated A+ by RECMA) with the arrival of 15 new hires across client teams. Under her stewardship, the agency's new practice combines and integrates the agency's media research, digital analytics, data integration and modeling teams to create on and offline continuity in data, analytics and insights.

"Bringing Theresa on board was critical to addressing the future needs of our clients, and she has significantly helped move MEC' analytics offering forward, especially in the ever-important areas of digital and search," said Doyle.

MEC's industry-leading digital expertise continues to be strengthened by the arrival of new talent such as Stephanie Prager from MediaVest. The MEC Interaction team is managed by one of the most experienced and innovative team of digital practitioners in the industry with Kristine Segrist, Head of Social & Search, Rich Astley, Head of Audience Buying & Digital Trading, Andy Wasef, Head of Mobile & Emerging Media and Digital Strategy Leaders, Adam Shlachter, Susan Shiekoffer, and Stephanie Prager. Together they form a formidable management team.

In addition to focusing on talent, digital and analytics, MEC continues to have its pulse on the latest industry trends, releasing a forward-thinking global white paper "Review Preview," http://www.mecglobal.com/what-we-think/mec-preview-review/ at the top of 2011, with insights on search, social media and engagement.

As proof of the agency's industry competitiveness, last week RECMA, the Paris-based media agency ranking tracking service, announced MEC as the most successful global agency at pitching new business, with a score of 108 points.

"As we gear up for the second half of 2011, MEC is poised to succeed in North America," stated Doyle. "With the right team of people in place, strengthened offerings in the areas our clients need most and access to the latest trends and insights in the marketplace, we're ready to move forward."

About MEC

MEC delivers value by creating, implementing and measuring communication solutions that actively engage people with brands.

Media planning and buying ~ Digital media ~ Search ~ Performance marketing ~ Social media ~ Analytics and Insight ~ Sport, Entertainment & Cause ~ Multi-cultural ~ Content ~ Retail ~ Integrated planning.

Our 4,000 highly talented and motivated people work with domestic and international clients in 84 countries. We are a founding partner of GroupM. To find out more, visit us at www.mecglobal.com.