Ogilvy Data Honcho Flies to Draft

Ogilvy’s data and analytics guru of seven years, Ira Helf, has made like a tree and, uh, leaved. He’ll join Draftfcb as EVP and executive director of data and analytics. He’s the second senior exec with major digital responsibilities to quit Ogilvy in recent weeks, after e-mail head Jeanniey Mullen bolted to take the top marketing spot at Zinio.

At Draft, Helf will report to New York President Peter DeNunzio, who told me yesterday the role is not limited to digital channels, but will oversee data and reporting needs “from upfront work on segmentation and modeling to campaign… metrics on the back end.” Helf’s bio credits him from expanding Ogilvy’s analytics practice from its focus on digital and direct into brand advertising and events marketing.

The two departures at Ogilvy follow a round of January layoffs that were at least partly the result of client demand for digital expertise. I have it on good information that at least one other female digital exec, this one from Neo@Ogilvy, is also on the way out or has already left. If you know who that might be, please shoot me an e-mail.

Update: Ogilvy makes a hire of its own. Marc Fleishhacker just joined Ogilvy New York from Digitas. He’ll be senior partner and managing director of Ogilvy’s marketing technology consulting practice, overseeing the new Sears/Kmart bidness.