Toronto-based DAC Group has brought on four senior hires to support new digital media business and client growth in financial services, automotive, and grocery categories.

In Canada, the company has brought on Ian Brock as director of media. Based in Toronto, Brock is responsible for leading digital media strategies for Canadian and U.S. clients in financial services, healthcare and agricultural sectors, along with providing additional thought leadership across all digital marketing channels, including paid search, display and paid social. He comes to DAC Group from Rateco, and Catalyst Canada prior to that.

Simon Richer is the new associate media director in Montreal focused on financial services and automotive categories. Richer was previously in charge of digital media at Absolunet and iProspect.

In the U.S., DAC Group has hired Bill Franklin as its SEO director, based in Chicago, and Emilie Vasu as the company’s VP of business development and partnerships in New York.

Franklin will lead SEO campaigns for clients across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and brings over 15 years of experience to his new role, aligning business goals to search strategies, while identifying cross-channel opportunities for growth.

Vasu will be developing enterprise-level new business partnerships, while overseeing DAC’s affiliations with media industry associations and search consultants.

Adam Luck, DAC Group’s GM and VP, tells MiC that the agency hired 44 new staff in the last half of 2020, 60% of which are net new. He adds that this new growth was triggered by “new business wins in digital media planning and buying for clients in the financial services, automotive, and grocery categories. Additionally we’ve won some significant RFPs in SEO and content strategy in the jewellery retail and convenience store categories.”