Optimedia Promotes Greg Kahn and Keith Mackay to EVP

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Antony Young, CEO, Optimedia US, today announced the elevation of Greg Kahn and Keith Mackay to Executive Vice President, and Chris Pyne to New York Head of Planning, effective immediately.  

Greg Kahn, EVP, Business Development Director

Kahn is elevated from SVP, Director of Strategic Insights. He takes on an expanded agency role in marketing and new business, with oversight of Optimedia's growth strategy in the US. Additionally, he will lead the BBC America business out of New York and will be responsible for leading the agency's LA operations with a focus on expanding its roster of entertainment clients. Kahn joined Optimedia in 2007 and was instrumental in developing and conceiving several of the agency's innovative initiatives, including Content Power Ratings -- a first-of-its kind proprietary study that measures television program audiences and influence across television, online and mobile.

Keith Mackay, EVP, Managing Director, Optimedia Seattle

Under Mackay's stewardship, Optimedia Seattle has impressively grown its revenues and client roster to include T-Mobile, Qantas Airlines (Australia), and HomeAway—which is debuting its first national advertising campaign in the upcoming Super Bowl XLIV.  Most recently SVP, Strategic Communications Director, Mackay has been instrumental in expanding the agency's reputation.  He and New York Head of Planning Chris Pyne are principal architects in the development of the agency's strategic planning product company-wide.  

Chris Pyne, SVP, Head of Planning, Optimedia NY

Pyne, previously head of OPEN, Optimedia US' strategic planning unit, is charged with overseeing the New York office's planning function, with a particular focus on expanding more insight-led strategies and driving integrated go-to-market activations.  Additionally, Pyne will directly lead the account and planning group for L'Oreal USA.  He joined Optimedia US in 2007, after transferring from ZenithOptimedia UK, and serves as a member of the agency's executive management team.

"Greg, Keith and Chris are proven industry leaders whose dedication and significant contributions have made an enormous impact on both our clients and our agency," said Young. "We're proud to recognize their achievements and the passion, leadership and global thinking they bring that continues to raise the bar for our brands and drives us forward as a lead agency."

About Optimedia US

Optimedia US (www.optimedia-us.com) is a media agency that specializes in strategy and digital integration. Its proposition is strategy, brilliantly executed. With offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, and Indianapolis, Optimedia works with some amazing brands such as T-Mobile, L'Oreal, Diesel, Armani, Garnier, Maybelline NY, Cartier, Kitchen-Aid, Ambien CR, Denny's, Citizen Watches and Mont Blanc.  Optimedia is owned by Publicis Groupe, the largest media agency services group in the US.  It is part of the ZO Worldwide Network and VivaKi division of Publicis Groupe.  

About VivaKi

VivaKi is part of Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577) the world's fourth largest communications group, the world's second largest media counsel and buying group, and a global leader in digital and healthcare communications. With around the world activities spanning more than 104 countries on five continents, the Groupe employs as many as 44,000 professionals. VivaKi aggregates the marketplace influence of five autonomous brands, including two global media agencies:  ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; two leading digital marketing agencies: Digitas and Razorfish; and a premiere futures practice:  Denuo. On behalf of its agency brands and their clients, VivaKi faces the market to help identify and build technology, message distribution, audience aggregation and content solutions for the future. Sitting at the core of VivaKi is the VivaKi Nerve Center, which serves as a think tank, R&D center and testing ground to activate new pathways for clients to connect with consumers in an increasingly digital world. VivaKi also includes a Talent & Transformation Practice, which leverages the scale of the VivaKi brands to develop and deliver tools and approaches designed to attract, develop, train, motivate and reward the world's best people.

Website: www.vivaki.com

SOURCE Optimedia US