IPG Mediabrands has hired Hermon Ghermay as its first-ever global chief cultural officer.
In the newly created role, Gerhmay will be responsible for overseeing the media agency network’s cultural efforts, including strategy, planning and execution of its DEI initiatives and holding global, regional and local leaders accountable to the company’s diversity commitments and goals. She will work closely with the IPG Mediabrands global leadership team and report directly to global CEO Daryl Lee.
“Curious, connected and high-achieving, Hermon reflects all the best attributes and values of our empowered global culture here at Mediabrands. Culture is often a motivation for why people join our company, but a strong culture always has room to grow and be better,” Lee said in a statement. “Hermon will help make Mediabrands a place where everyone can flourish and thrive, and a community which attracts and retains the best talent. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on our community and industry at large.”
An Etrian immigrant and Harvard graduate, Ghermay has held a number of industry leadership and advisor roles. Most recently, she was a director at executive search firm Grace Blue. Prior to joining Grace Blue, she spent over five years as an account director at Goodby Silverstein & Partners, following around four years in that role for Deutsch.
“Culture is the operating system of an organization, and now more than ever we must look at what’s happening at the intersection of identity and corporate culture and ensure that we’re creating an environment where people feel seen, heard and supported,” Ghermay said in a statement. “This takes commitment, belief and tenacity, all qualities that I’ve found in Daryl and the leadership team at Mediabrands. I’m thrilled to join a company full of incredible talent that prioritizes its people and culture and is truly invested in their collective and individual successes.”