GroupM's Rob Norman Ascends to North America CEO

WPP-owned GroupM named interactive vet Rob Norman CEO of GroupM North America. He replaces Marc Goldstein, who is leaving the company after three years at the helm. Goldstein will maintain an advisory relationship to GroupM’s management, the company said.

Since 2006, Norman has been CEO of GroupM Interaction, the digital arm and growth engine of the agency network. In the role he has been closely involved with WPP’s aggressive investments in online advertising, including its 2007 stake in VideoEgg and its acquisition of 24/7 Real Media.

Earlier he led the creation of MEC Interaction in 2005 and was chairman of GroupM agency Mediaedge:cia in the U.K. from 2002 until 2004. He joined GroupM with WPP’s 2001 acquisition of Tempus Group.

GroupM is parent to agencies Maxus, MediaCom, Mediaedge:cia, and Mindshare. All of those agencies were hit by layoffs during the 2008-2009 recession. One year ago, GroupM dismissed 93 staffers, or about 2.7 percent of its total staff.

Under a restructuring, Norman will share management duties with Rino Scanzoni, GroupM’s chief investment officer. Norman will report to GroupM’s global COO, Rupert Day, while Scanzoni will answer to global CEO Irwin Gotlieb.