Empower Media was recently acquired by NitroC owner Ashlee Clarke, expanding the reach of the Cincinnati-based independent agency. Now, as the agency enters a reorganization, it has brought on some heavyweights from other agencies and its partner agency to bolster its leadership.
The new team includes Lee Doyle, formerly an executive at Mindshare and GroupM, who joins Empower as evp, group managing director. Since 2020 Doyle has been president of NitroC Media. Prior to NitroC, Lee spent 18 years at GroupM and WPP in several roles across different media agencies in both strategic planning and buying capacities. He was president at Mindshare and CEO, North America for MEC, now Wavemaker.
Lee Doyle has been named evp, group managing director at Empower.
“Empower’s blue chip client roster, media scale and extremely well regarded senior leadership places it in a unique situation to attract media clients who want both senior leaders on their business every day and want to benefit from the buying scale that Empower offers,” Doyle said in a statement.
Former Starcom media director Rhona Sanchez will share the role of co-head of integrated planning with former Mindshare manager Jason Kogut, who was previously with Empower Chicago and now returns to the agency. Amy Johnson, who has been svp of integrated planning at Empower, will also share the title of co-head of integrated planning.
Rich Notarianni, who was formerly chief engagement officer at Havas, joins as chief consumer officer. Notarianni has been a strategist for NitroC Group since 2020.
Brad Groves, who was formerly with BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi and The Marketing Arm joins as managing director of creative integration. He has been svp, managing director at NitroC Group since 2019.
In addition, Kim McEntee joins Empower Media as head of procurement, while Danielle Brindisi will serve as head of HR.
Clarke acquired Empower Media in early January and became CEO, making Empower Media the largest female-owned media agency in the country.
“I’m delighted to elevate Empower with such a brilliant team. Their experience and thought leadership adds to an already incredibly strong team at Empower,” said Clarke in a statement.