UM’s Brien to head IPG global media

Universal McCann worldwide chief executive Nick Brien has been promoted to head parent company Interpublic Group’s media operations, as first tipped in Marketing Week last year (MW December 5, 2007). Brien joins as chief executive and president of new media holding company Mediabrands.

In his new role, Brien will have management responsibility for all of IPG’s media, including Universal McCann and Initiative, Magna and Magna Trading. He is being replaced at Universal McCann by Matt Seiler who joins from PHD, where he was president and chief executive of North America. Richard Beaven continues as worldwide chief executive of Initiative.

IPG first started restructuring its management last year when it gave additional responsibilities to Graham Duff, the Universal McCann president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (MW December 5, 2007). Duff has since been also running Intitiative across EMEA.

As a result Initiative UK and Ireland chief executive and joint European chief operating officer Jerry Hill was appointed to the new role of global strategic development director for the network (MW March 13, 2008).

Brien was appointed to his current role in August 2005, reporting into Mark Rosenthal, who headed IPG’s media operations as chief executive and chairman. Previously Brien worked at Publicis Groupe’s Leo Burnett and Starcom networks.