Stephen Allan, chairman and CEO of Worldwide MediaCom, has announced the appointment of MediaCom’s US CEO, Doug Checkeris, to the newly created position of CEO MediaCom North America.
Checkeris will be responsible for managing MediaCom’s resources and strategy across the North American region. The move is part of a plan to strengthen MediaCom’s global network through stronger regional management and better organize the agency’s resources to serve and attract regional and global clients.
In Canada, Checkeris helped build MediaCom into the largest and most successful media investment management company in the country.
‘Doug has great familiarity with Canada and was instrumental in building the tremendous success we have had in that country,’ says Allan. ‘He clearly understands the balance required to drive the benefits of more NA collaboration while allowing each country to maintain the autonomy that contributes to its individual success.’
Checkeris was named CEO of MediaCom US in October 2007 after running MediaCom’s Canadian operation. He began his career at MBS, the forerunner to MediaCom Canada, 25 years ago as a media trainee. After joining the MBS management committee in 1986, he became managing partner in 1996. When MBS joined forces with MediaCom to form The Media Company, Checkeris became president-CEO of the combined entity in 2004.
MediaCom, wholly owned by WPP and part of WPP’s GroupM, is one of the world’s leading media communication specialists, with US billings exceeding $6.5B (RECMA). Its capabilities span media strategy and planning, media buying, consumer insights and analytics, business science, MediaCom ESP (Entertainment, Sports, Partnerships), branded entertainment, retail, direct marketing and MediaCom Multicultural. Its client portfolio includes 3M, Allergan, Audi, ConAgra Foods, Dell (in conjunction with WPP), Diageo, Glaceau, GlaxoSmithKline, Hasbro, JetBlue, LVMH, Michelin, Nokia, Royal Dutch Shell, Royal Bank of Scotland, Staples, Volkswagen of America, Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. Home Video.
