Ogilvy Group to Focus on Digital

OgilvyInteractive has created a Digital Innovation Group to manage emerging interactive technologies across the Ogilvy agencies.

Maria Mandel, formerly VP and director of interactive services at Interpublic Group’s DraftDigital, has been tapped to lead the group as director of Digital Innovation at OgilvyInteractive. Mandel’s team will consult with other Ogilvy agencies on initiatives that involve broadband, wireless, gaming, digital out-of-home advertising, and interactive TV.

Brandon Berger, a senior strategist at OgilvyInteractive who has focused on gaming and wireless activities, will also move over to the Digital Innovation Group. Berger is spearheading a research initiative to develop systems with partners to measure the effectiveness of gaming, wireless, and other initiatives.

Besides forming the new group, OgilvyInteractive announced the promotion of two top executives. Dan Goodman has been named executive director, OgilvyInteractive New York. Goodman joined OgilvyInteractive in 2003 from Interpublic Group’s Lowe, New York. In his new role, Goodman will oversee the Digital Innovation Group and help set the strategic direction of the agency as well as focus on individual client business.

Goodman takes the reins from Eric Wheeler, who was promoted to executive director, OgilvyInteractive North America. Wheeler joined OgilvyInteractive in 2003 from Aegis Group’s Carat Interactive. Wheeler will focus on expanding the OgilvyInteractive offering throughout the agency’s eight offices in New York; Chicago; Detroit; Minneapolis; Raleigh, NC; Los Angeles; San Francisco; and Toronto.

“These new moves reflect our continued investment in talent and technology to enable us to keep our clients at the forefront of all new strategies,” said Carla Hendra, president of OgilvyOne and OgilvyInteractive North America.