Jane Reiss Joins Grey New York As Chief Marketing Officer

NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- James R. Heekin, Chairman and CEO of Grey Group, today announced that Jane Reiss is joining Grey New York, the agency's flagship office, as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately.  She joins the senior leadership team led by Tor Myhren, President and Chief Creative Officer and Michael Houston, Chief Operating Officer, Grey New York.

Jane Reiss comes to Grey New York from NYC & Company—the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization of the City of New York—where she served as its first-ever Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Over six years, she compiled a tremendous record of success and helped New York City's tourism industry achieve unprecedented growth, notably reaching Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's stated goal of 50 million annual visitors a full four years ahead of schedule.

"Jane is one of the most innovative marketers in our industry with her finger on the pulse of what clients are seeking from their agency partners," Michael Houston said.  "Her incredible energy and drive coupled with her groundbreaking creativity in building brands across digital and social media will ensure Grey continues its amazing growth curve."

In her new position, Jane Reiss will be an integral member of the New York management team, spearheading Grey's business development efforts and the marketing of the Grey brand.  She will be charged with conveying Grey's "Famously Effective" positioning and integrated offering to the consultant and client communities.

Jane Reiss has played a key role in making New York City the number one tourist destination for the first time in 20 years.  During her tenure, NYC & Company established an international network of offices promoting New York that has become a model for the Obama administration's Brand USA efforts; developed major corporate sponsorships with such brands as American Express, Travelocity, American Airlines, JetBlue and Google to name a few, and launched nycgo.com, the award-winning official tourism website.

"I am delighted to join the Grey New York team whose vision for what a contemporary marketing organization can be has made the agency a creative and new business powerhouse," Jane Reiss said.  "We have a compelling brand story to tell and I look forward to helping shape its future growth and success."

Earlier in her career, Jane Reiss served as Managing Director and Partner at Margeotes Fertitta & Partners, New York.   During her 18 years at the full-service advertising agency, she oversaw strategic brand development and account management for such premier clients as Coca-Cola, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hearst Corporation, Tribeca Film Festival, MediaOne, Cunard, SunCom/AT&T Wireless, Colonial Williamsburg and Godiva.

Grey's Record Performance

Over the past three years, Grey New York has won more than 50 new business reviews, $1.8 billion in new business billings, from such blue-chip clients as the NFL, DirecTV, Red Lobster, T.J. Maxx, Allianz, Ally Financial, Marriott Hotels, RadioShack and the National Park Foundation.  Grey has also won major new assignments from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Allergan and Playtex.

Grey New York was cited in FAST COMPANY's "World's Most Innovative Companies" issue in 2010 and 2011; ADVERTISING AGE's A-List of the best agencies in America in 2010, 2012 and 2013 and CREATIVITY's A-List of the most creative agencies in 2013.

About Grey

Grey New York is the flagship and largest office of Grey, the advertising network of Grey Group.  Grey Group ranks among the largest global communications companies.  Its parent company is WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY).  Under the banner of Grey Famously Effective Since 1917, the agency serves a blue-chip client roster of many of the world's best known companies:  Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Darden Restaurants, Pfizer, Canon, 3M, ETrade, NFL, Boehringer Ingelheim, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and T.J. Maxx.  (www.grey.com) 

SOURCE Grey