IPG-owned digital creative agency Genuine has hired Adam Kasper and Mitch Blum away from Havas and DigitasLBi, respectively.
Kasper, an 11-year veteran of Havas (22-year industry vet) and the advertising conglomerate’s former chief media officer, joins Genuine as executive media director. He will be tasked with building out the agency’s in-house media offering “into a full 360 suite in the areas of social, media, graphic content creation, dynamic campaign development and analytics,” according to a Genuine announcement.
Blum was named senior vice president of strategy and planning and hails from DigitasLBi, where he was svp of creative and strategy. Blum, touted by Genuine as “an award-winning strategist,” will evolve and oversee the agency’s strategy and planning team.
Mitch Blum, courtesy of Genuine.
“Our digital culture is always changing,” said Tim Haarmann, Genuine executive vp, managing director. “At Genuine, we help our clients navigate that digital future by building agile brands that stay culturally relevant. And, at the epicenter of our model is robust and dynamic media and strategy teams. I’m thrilled to have Adam and Mitch join us.”
Haarmann himself recently joined Genuine, in September, from DigitasLBi. He is responsible for the shop’s managing operations and strategic growth, Adweek reported earlier this year. Kasper and Blum will work alongside Haarmann to help Genuine build and grow brands for the long-term, using a digital-first approach.
The new hires allow the agency to evolve its services for “the entire customer journey,” according to Genuine, including consumers’ first exposure to a brand, driving traffic to websites, apps and e-commerce platforms and providing analytics and data on brand interactions.
At Havas, Kasper worked with clients such as Fidelity, Sears, Choice Hotels and Panasonic, building distinct digital marketing tools for them, Genuine noted. Blum, who, before DigitasLBi, held positions at Arnold Worldwide, MullenLowe and Marketing Drive Worldwide, developed strategies for brands including Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, Gillette, Bank of America and Verizon.