Yes, you may have already read/heard that MRM chief Bill Kolb has been promoted to chairman/CEO of parent McCann Worldgroup’s General Motors account. But alas, there are other things stirring as well within digital/direct-focused MRM, specifically in terms of certain West Coast operations. From what we’ve been told by sources familiar with the matter, MRM Salt Lake City and MRM San Francisco will be combined to create a new unit called MRM/West.
As a result, Lori Feld and Ted Tsandes will serve as managing director and executive creative director of MRM/West, respectively. From what we’ve been told by those on the Spy line, MRM SF managing director, Patricia Berns, and VP/project management Jim Ewing are no longer with the agency. MRM would not comment on either’s status, but we’ve received word that Jim Wayand, a Microsoft alum who was mentioned among those departed, still remains on board as SVP/global business lead. As for the new leadership team, Feld has spent 13 years within the McCann/MRM fold and Tsandes a decade in its creative department. Both have worked out of the SLC office.