Mindshare is set to appoint its chief strategy officer, Katie Rigg-Smith, as its new CEO to replace outgoing boss James Greet.
Mindshare’s chief trading officer Sharb Farjami becomes chief operating officer for Mindshare.
Group M chairman John Steedman confirmed the appointment to AdNews tonight after AdNews earlier today broke the news that Greet was heading to Ikon as chief executive.
Rigg-Smith will be the first woman to rise to the top of a media agency group since Anne Parsons was CEO at Mediacom, another Group M media agency.
Steedman told AdNews: “Katie has been with Mindshare for 15 years and she has an exceptional reputation. She’s a visionary, she lives and breathes Mindshare and will be outstanding for the business. She will bring a new perspective in terms of where Mindshare goes next."
Steedman said Rigg-Smith “bleeds purple”, in reference to the colour of Mindshare’s brand identity.
Steedman said he was surprised by Greet’s exit. "Any resignation is a surprise to me," he said.
"Katie's remit is to continue the momentum that we had under James Greet. I am absolutely convinced that the management team under Katie will deliver."
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