Plus Company hires Karine Courtemanche to lead media group

Touche!'s long-time leader will work with Mélanie Dunn to "evolve" the company's entire portfolio as Axel Dumont leaves the agency.
By Josh Kolm
June 26, 2023

Karine Courtemanche (left) with Mélanie Dunn.

Karine Courtemanche has been hired as EVP of Plus Company Canada and president of the media group, a role that will also have her contributing to growth and collaboration across the company’s agencies.

In addition to leading the company’s media group – which includes agencies Cossette Media and Jungle Media – Courtemanche will work with Mélanie Dunn, president of Plus Company Canada, on “evolving the entire portfolio.” The new role is effective beginning in July.

Outside of media, Plus Company’s agencies include Aperture1, Camp Jefferson, Cossette, Impact Research, K-72, Level Eleven, Magic Circle Workshop, Septième and The ShowRoom.

Last week, Omnicom Media Group announced that Courtemanche would be leaving the network after roughly two decades. She first joined Touche! in 2003 and was named president of the agency in 2010, later adding leadership for all of Omnicom Media Group’s activities in Montreal. She was named CEO of both Touche! and parent network PHD in 2020.

“Courtemanche has a proven track record of excellence managing multiple agencies, respecting what makes each brand unique and drawing on mutual strengths. She also has a contagious passion for the work, and firmly believes in the power of creativity and innovation,” Dunn said. “With the support of all our agency leaders, Karine and I are eager to explore what this team will unlock.”

In a post on LinkedIn last week, Cossette Media president Axel Dumont said he had left the agency, celebrating his time at there and saying it had an “exciting future ahead,” but that he will be taking time “to rest, reset and spend time with my family” before taking on his next opportunity.

Dumont joined the agency in 2019 as VP and managing director for Quebec and Canada East, being promoted to president in late 2020.

In addition, Plus Company Canada has promoted Camp Jefferson’s EVP and managing director Peter Bolt to president, while Jungle Media’s managing partner Brooke Leland has also added president duties to her remit. The company said this was “in recognition of their contributions to the network.”