-By John Consoli, Mediaweek

NEW YORK Laura Desmond, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group, has formed a new global management team charged with accelerating growth and business development across all units of the media agency network.

The new team will consist of 10 executives, along with Andrew Swinand, SMG president of global operations, and Sean Finnegan, SMG chief digital officer.

The SMG global leadership team members include: Marston Allen, global director of business development and marketing; Bernard Bedon, global director, talent and innovation; Matt Blackborn, global director, technology accounts; Dan Mattei, global brand chief financial officer; Sasa Savic, global director of the Procter & Gamble account; and Kate Sirkin, evp, director of SMG's global research.

The group will work closely with the company's regional leadership team which includes Zain Jacob, CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa; Martha Marin, CEO of Latin America; and Ravi Kiran and Paul Maher, CEOs of Asia.

"Our reinvention as agency of the future requires a strategic infrastructure of the right people in the right places," Desmond said. "We've achieved good traction in this initiative, but we have much work to do. The talented team of leaders I have identified will help us move more aggressively, ensuring we become the preferred client partner in every market we do business."

Added Desmond: "Global connectivity is a core operating principle at SMG and this team will focus on deploying the strengths of the network like never before."