Deutsch NA CEO Mike Sheldon to Depart After 22 Year Tenure at Agency
October 02 2019 - 4:00PM
Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced today that Deutsch North
America Chairman and CEO, Mike Sheldon, informed the company of his
plans to leave the agency at the end of the year. Sheldon has been
with Deutsch since 1997 and is credited with growing Deutsch Los
Angeles from a small startup to a west coast agency powerhouse and
opening Steelhead Productions. Since 2015, he has served as
Deutsch’s top executive, overseeing both the Los Angeles and New
York offices.
Two long-term executives, Val DiFebo and Kim Getty, will lead
each of the agency’s two independent offices. Effective January 1,
2020, Getty, the current president of Deutsch LA, will become the
CEO of that office. Both executives will report to Philippe
Krakowsky, IPG’s COO.
“I have loved every crazy minute of being at Deutsch. From the
day we started in LA with a small handful of people to the
significant force we are today on both coasts. The thing I’m most
proud of is the people that are in place to take the agency to the
next level,” said Sheldon. “This decision was difficult and
bittersweet, since Deutsch has been a very happy home for me for
the last 22 years, and I will always be there for the agency and
its people. But I’m really excited to see what other kinds of
opportunities exist for me outside of agency life. I’ll take some
time to explore before taking a step into the next chapter for me
professionally.”
“Mike has been a force of nature in our industry and he leaves
with our gratitude and best wishes. There are few people with the
business building track record that Mike has to his name,” said
Michael Roth, Chairman and CEO of IPG. “It’s also gratifying to see
a thoughtful succession plan that moves senior executives with
strong track records into the top roles at both Deutsch offices.
Val and Kim are both highly client-centric leaders who have driven
consistently strong results as the head of their respective
offices.”
“Deutsch LA and Deutsch NY have always maintained a great deal
of autonomy, and that’s been central to each agency’s success. This
move acknowledges that individuality and eliminates potential
client conflicts between the two offices, while maintaining the
strong Deutsch brand in both cities. Having known and worked with
Val and Kim for some time, I look forward to seeing what we can do
to grow their respective clients’ businesses,” said Krakowsky.
In recent months, Deutsch has added significant new business –
the LA office was recently awarded Behr Paint, Mattel and global
dot com redesign responsibilities for the Almond Board of
California, while NY secured Reebok, Michelob Ultra and Budweiser
global business and J&J’s Attune. Steelhead, the production
unit within Deutsch, has also seen success, including the on-going
filming of Modern Family, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and HBO’s
Insecure, along with other marketing and entertainment
projects.
# # #
About InterpublicInterpublic is values-based, data-fueled, and
creatively-driven. Major global brands include Acxiom, Craft, FCB
(Foote, Cone & Belding), FutureBrand, Golin, Huge, Initiative,
Jack Morton, MAGNA, McCann, Momentum, MRM//McCann, MullenLowe
Group, Octagon, R/GA, UM and Weber Shandwick. Other leading brands
include Avrett Free Ginsberg, Campbell Ewald, Carmichael Lynch,
Deutsch, Hill Holliday, ID Media and The Martin Agency. For more
information, please visit www.interpublic.com.
Tom Cunningham
(Press)
(212) 704-1326
Jerry Leshne
(Analysts, Investors)
(212) 704-1439
Interpublic Group of Com... (NYSE:IPG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Interpublic Group of Com... (NYSE:IPG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024