Astound hires two for the C-suite

Toronto-based experiential agency Astound has added two to its leadership team. Chuck Bajnai has joined as the agency’s first chief creative officer, while Mark Thompson has been appointed as both chief revenue officer and chief client officer, leading all client-focused operations. Bajnai has more than 20 years of design experience with clients such as GM, Audi, Motorola, Volkswagen and others. He previously served as chief creative officer at EWI Worldwide. Thompson has worked with global brands such as Mastercard, GM, Salesforce and Coca-Cola and was recently president of Momentum Worldwide. His background mainly lies in experiential, sponsorship and shopper marketing.

Triton Digital expands sales team

Audio and podcast company Triton Digital has added Jeff Galad as publisher development manager. Galad will conduct sales, business development and publisher relationship operations on behalf of Triton’s Toronto and Montreal markets. Galad previously served as manager of mobile sales for Oath, and held account executive roles with Juice Mobile and Postmedia Network. Galad’s role will focus on helping publishers grow audiences and ROI through audio advertising.

IPG Mediabrands promotes first female global CEO

Erica Schmidt has made company history with IPG Mediabrands, becoming the company’s first global CEO among its various agencies. Schmidt, who previously served as EVP and MD for Cadreon’s North American division, is now its global CEO. She takes on the role from Arun Kumar, who will remain the marketing chief technology officer for IPG Mediabrands. She will report to Kumar, and according to Cadreon will work together to “[scale] IPG’s data and technology infrastructure.”

A new CEO at Vice Media

Former A+E Networks president and CEO Nancy Dubuc has been confirmed as the new CEO of Vice Media. She replaces co-founder Shane Smith, who will stay with the millennial-oriented network as executive chairman. Dubuc previously oversaw the joint venture agreement between A+E and Vice Media which saw the U.S. launch of Viceland. (Viceland Canada, for its part, is set to leave Canadian airwaves March 31, as Rogers Media has bowed out of its broadcasting deal; Vice has not yet announced a new broadcast partner.)