McCann Worldgroup CFO Tara Comonte Named Industry Innovator by Advertising Women of New York

NEW YORK, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) has selected McCann Worldgroup CFO Tara Comonte as one of this year's "Industry Innovators," it was announced today. She will be honored along with the other award-winners at AWNY's sixth annual "Changing the Game" luncheon on April 17 at the New York Hilton. 

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The AWNY initiative celebrates 16 women who have taken bold chances to make a difference in a product, company, or the lives of others.  Ms. Comonte is being lauded in the "Quantum Leap" category — celebrating women who take risk to spur change within their organizations. She has been CFO at McCann Worldgroup, part of Interpublic Group, since September 2010. 

"Tara's innovative and entrepreneurial leadership has enabled us to accelerate our agency's transformation agenda around the world," McCann Worldgroup CEO Nick Brien said. "We are thrilled that AWNY has recognized Tara. The honor is incredibly well-deserved." 

Prior to McCann Worldgroup, Ms. Comonte served as CFO/COO of Mediabrands, also part of Interpublic Group. While there, she worked successfully with the leadership team to strengthen both the operational and commercial performance of the media brands of UM, Initiative, Magna, Geomentum, Reprise and ID Media.

Ms. Comonte is also a passionate philanthropist.  As a supporter of Raleigh International, a youth development aid charity, she joined the charity's expedition staff to build schools in Namibia, Africa. She managed the building of a school serving multiple African villages across a 40-mile area. The school was successfully completed 25% under budget while meeting the highest of standards ever achieved by Raleigh. Ms. Comonte was recently selected as a Young Global Leader for the 2012 World Economic Forum.

About McCann Worldgroup

McCann Worldgroup delivers marketing solutions that transform brands and grow businesses. The company is comprised of a collaborative roster of best-in-class agencies that emphasize creativity, innovation, and performance, including McCann Erickson (the world's largest advertising agency network); MRM (digital marketing/relationship management); Momentum (experiential marketing); McCann Healthcare (professional/dtc communications); and WGEXP (global production).

About AWNY:

Founded in 1912 as the first women's association in the communications industry, AWNY now boasts a membership of more than 1,300 dynamic, influential women and men in the advertising, marketing, media, promotion and public relations fields.  AWNY is an active affiliate of the American Advertising Federation.  For further information about AWNY, please visit www.awny.org. 

SOURCE McCann Worldgroup