GroupM appoints Farjami as North America CEO
By Ibidunni Banjoko
GroupM, WPP’s prominent media investment group, has announced the immediate appointment of Sharb Farjami as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for North America.
Farjami replaces Kirk McDonald, whose exit was announced last October. He succeeds Mindshare’s Global CEO Adam Gerhart, who took on the added role of Interim CEO for GroupM North America during a search for McDonald’s replacement. Gerhart will continue to oversee Mindshare’s global agency operations, maintaining a focus on the agency’s growth and success.
The changing of the guard comes as advertising buyers and sellers are ramping up for the annual upfront season in the spring, when a large chunk of the TV ad business is transacted
Farjami previously served as North America CEO for GroupM agency Wavemaker, contributing significantly to the agency’s global new business achievements in 2023.
Known for his hands-on and collaborative leadership style, Farjami brings over a decade of C-suite experience to the role, having worked on both agency and publisher sides in various global markets.
Farjami success in leveraging the GroupM platform to drive advantages for Wavemaker’s clients is highlighted as a model for the future of the organization by GroupM Global CEO Christian Juhl. His has a proven track record in scaling new media offerings, operationalizing capabilities, and leading technology-enabled organizations for competitive client differentiation.
Prior to joining Wavemaker, he held senior leadership positions at Foxtel, News Corp, and Viacom.
Farjami expressed excitement about GroupM’s role in helping North American clients maximize their media investments and contribute to the transformation of the industry. He succeeds Adam Gerhart, Global CEO of Mindshare, who served as Interim CEO for GroupM North America during the leadership search.
Farjami will continue to oversee Wavemaker in North America until a replacement is identified.
GroupM, the world’s leading media investment company, operates in North America through its agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and mSix&Partners. The group represents thousands of employees and manages billions in annual media investment for major brands, including Adobe, Audible, DoorDash, Google, NBCUniversal, and Unilever.
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