IPG Mediabrands’ Initiative network has appointed marketing veteran Nish Shah to the newly created position of vice-president of strategy, responsible for new business. The appointment is effective immediately.
His 13-year marketing career includes progressively senior positions, most recently as VP of strategy and ideation at Match Marketing Group, with a focus on crafting what the agency calls “connected experiences” that bridge the online and off-line worlds.
He was also managing director for Collide, and worked with Armstrong Partnership, where his clients included MasterCard, Kraft Foods and the Canadian Cancer Society.
In the early part of his career, Shah managed integrated marketing campaigns on behalf of the NHL for brands including Bridgestone, Scotiabank, Home Depot, Visa and McDonald’s.
He will report directly to Helen Galanis, who succeeded Adam Luck as Initiative president in January. Galanis describes the agency’s newest hire as a “thought leader” with a history of developing well-executed strategic campaigns for global brands.
She says Shah embodies the network’s core cultural values of “fast, brave, decisive and simple,” noting that he has the ability to shift from strategic thought leadership to situational brand stewardship. “[This] will make him an invaluable resource to our internal and client teams,” she says.
IPG merged its Initiative and m2 networks in December, saying it would allow it to better leverage the former’s global presence while providing staff with greater access to global resources. The network employs just over 100 people in Canada.
