Initiative creates new global roles

Initiative, the Interpublic Group-owned media agency network, has created several new global lead roles as part of its restructuring strategy.

Richard Beaven
Richard Beaven

Mauricio Sabogal, Omnicom Media Group Latin America CEO, will join Initiative in the new position of worldwide managing director.

Reporting to Initiative worldwide chief executive, Richard Beaven (pictured), Sabogal will work with agency heads across both the media agency network and the holding company for IPG’s media assets, Mediabrands.

Sabogal will also assume the role of Latin American president of Mediabrands and will work closely with its chief executive and president, Nick Brien.

Jean-Christophe Petit, who formerly oversaw Mediabrands Latin America, will become part of the Europe, Middle East and Africa leadership team and oversee southern Europe in collaboration with Graham Duff, president Mediabrands EMEA.

In another new appointment, Janet Fitzpatrick, formerly Initiative worldwide director of communication planning, will take up the new role of president, worldwide clients.

She will be responsible for driving results and performance across Initiative’s portfolio of clients.

In certain European countries the agency’s clients include BMW, Red Bull, AXA, Cadbury and Tesco.

Joining Fitzpatrick will be Erin Flaxman who has been promoted from director, business development, Initiative USA, to worldwide client director.

Sarah Ivey, director of communication planning, worldwide, will now take on Fitzpatrick’s strategic planning responsibilities.

Further, Karin Baatsch-Deboulet will step up from the role of director of worldwide operations, to move into the new role of chief technology catalyst, worldwide.

Baatsch-Deboulet will be responsible for delivering client-led, custom built tools and platforms for the network.

Tim Spengler, USA president, has been promoted to president of North America, taking on responsibilities for Canada.

The latest appointments signals the second stage of a wider restructuring strategy led by Beavan who last year created a team of dedicated regional and functional heads.

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