MAM
GroupM names Brian Lesser as CEO, North America
MUMBAI: WPP’s GroupM has appointed Brian Lesser as CEO for business in the US and Canada.
Lesser was previously Xaxis global CEO. He succeeds Kelly Clark, who will be transitioning to a new advisory role focused on strategic initiatives with clients and specialty businesses over the coming months.
With this, Brian Gleason will succeed Lesser as Xaxis global CEO.
In concert with these changes, GroupM global chief digital officer Rob Norman adds the position of chairman, North America to his responsibilities.
The new roles for the two executives reflect GroupM’s certainty that the future of media-driven marketing is inextricably tied to data and technology. Key investments and partnerships over the past several years that support this positioning include WPP’s investments in comScore and AppNexus; GroupM’s and Kantar Media’s partnership with Rentrak; more recent alliances with BuzzFeed and Networked Insights; introduction of the industry’s first data management platform and first programmatic audience platform; introduction of Modi Media, the first fully-formed advanced TV specialty business delivering addressable TV ads at scale; and numerous progressive positions on digital ad viewability and measurement that are focused on raising the bar for effectiveness and trading currency.
While driving advancement in North America, Lesser and Norman also each continue serving on GroupM’s global executive committee, led by GroupM global president Dominic Proctor and global chairman Irwin Gotlieb.
“Brian will be a huge part of our future and his appointment reflects our values and ambition, as well as WPP’s drive to achieve 40-45% of revenues from digital in five years. Our future is being built on tech, data, talent and scale. Brian absolutely gets that and is perfectly suited to help us shape that future to best serve advertisers. We’re very fortunate to have him leading our business in the world’s biggest market,” said Proctor.
“GroupM has continuously evolved with clients through major shifts in the media landscape and consumer behavior with data and technology having always been part of the value proposition. GroupM has challenged convention and forced dialogue on important issues to help clients be more successful. I’m humbled and grateful to have an opportunity to help continue this legacy at this time when complexity is more profound than ever,” added Lesser.
“This is an exciting time for our company. We have many successes to count and new marketplace challenges to conquer, but above all, we have the strength of our agency brands, our specialist enterprises and our increasing differentiation in the management and application of data that leave us exceptionally well-positioned for the future. I’m energized by the road ahead and excited to work with Brian and our colleagues on the executive committee for the next chapter,” said Norman.
MAM
Taboola names Krishan Bhatia as chief business officer
Digital ad veteran takes the reins to steer taboola’s global sales and AI growth
NEW YORK: Taboola has added Krishan Bhatia to its leadership team as chief business officer, signalling a bold push in global sales and partnerships.
Bhatia will spearhead revenue growth across Taboola’s full product suite, including its Realize performance advertising platform, publisher network, CTV performance, and generative AI offerings. He brings a proven record of driving growth at leading tech and media giants, including Amazon and NBCUniversal.
At Amazon, Bhatia launched and led the global video advertising business spanning Prime Video, Live Sports, Twitch, and third-party programmers as VP, global video advertising and partnerships. Prior to that, he served as president and chief business officer at NBCUniversal’s global advertising and partnerships division, overseeing digital, streaming TV, and advanced advertising.
“Krishan is joining Taboola at a pivotal moment in our journey,” said Taboola CEO Adam Singolda. “We are redefining performance advertising on the open web. Realize is gaining real momentum as advertisers look for scalable growth beyond search and social. DeeperDive is putting generative AI directly into publishers’ hands, helping them innovate and thrive. The opportunity ahead is massive.”
Singolda added that Bhatia’s experience in building global advertising businesses and executing at scale will complement Taboola’s growth. “We’ve built a strong foundation for long-term success, surpassing $2 billion in revenue under Eldad Maniv, our president and COO. With that momentum, I’m thrilled to welcome Krishan to the team to take our go-to-market execution to the next level.”
“Taboola has a bold vision, combining global scale and innovative technology to empower advertisers and publishers,” said Bhatia. “The launch of Realize has strengthened Taboola’s position as a leader outside search and social. With DeeperDive, generative AI, and a clear focus on partner success, there is a huge runway ahead. I’m excited to join the team at such a transformative time.”
With Krishan Bhatia on board, Taboola is all set to turn up the heat in performance advertising, blending global scale, AI innovation, and next-level partnerships to shape the future of the open web.
