Mediabrands poaches Starcom Mediavest chairman John Sintras for New York role
Sintras speaking at this year’s Mumbrella360
Starcom Mediavest Australia chairman and director of global experience product John Sintras is leaving the network he has been with for 30 years to take on a New York-based role with IPG Mediabrands.
The departure of Sintras was confirmed last night with IPG Mediabrands noting that he will be president of global business development and product innovation, a New York-based position that will report directly to global CEO Henry Tajer.
He becomes the latest Australian recruit for Mediabrands’ Tajer as he looks to reshape the network globally.
Since taking the global role Tajer has gone on a hiring spree, appointing Di Richardson has been appointed chief strategy officer for UM’s USA operations last week, naming Travis Johnson as global head of mobile while the boss of IPG Mediabrands’s programmatic platform Cadreon Marc Lomas has also been tapped for an international role. GroupM investment director Danny Bass has been appointed CEO at IPG Mediabrands locally.
“It’s been a long and truly amazing journey with SMG in Australia and globally,” said Sintras in a statement.
“I am enormously proud of the many milestones we have achieved together and I know that I leave the Australian business under the capable leadership of Chris Nolan and his executive team,”
Chris Nolan, CEO of Starcom Mediavest will continue reporting into SMG President, Asia Pacific Mike Amour.
Sintras and Tajer at last year’s CBD Golf Escape. Sintras is on the far left and Tajer on the far right
The chairman role in Australia will not be filled, however the global role will be occupied by US-based Kathy Kline.
Sintras and Tajer are known to be close and have both been key to the annual Sydney CBD Gold Escape, an the event which raises millions of dollars for cerebral palsy each year.
“John has helped SMG build strong momentum in product innovation, creative and commercial success and those achievements are highly attractive to IPG Mediabrands,” said Tajer, in a statement.
“We’re really pleased that John is attracted to our network. To deliver on our global plans, we need the world’s best, proven talent and John’s track record tells us he is the right executive for this vital new role.”
Sintras was CEO of Starcom Mediavest from 2007-13 and prior to that worked as COO from 2000-07.
He takes on the new role next year.
The announcement:
After a remarkable 30-year career with Starcom Mediavest Group, Chairman SMG Australia and Director Global Experience Product John Sintras will leave the network to take on a New York-based role with IPG Mediabrands from next year.
Sintras is one of the industry’s most respected, innovative and awarded leaders as well as a widely recognised media figurehead, underscored by his induction into the Media Federation of Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2012 and award as AMI Certified Marketer of the Year in the same year.
Globally, he has led SMG’s Global Experience Product and recently added the responsibility of leading the Human Experience Strategy global team.
“It’s been a long and truly amazing journey with SMG in Australia and globally. I am enormously proud of the many milestones we have achieved together and I know that I leave the Australian business under the capable leadership of Chris Nolan and his executive team,” said Sintras.
SMG Australia CEO Chris Nolan said: “John has achieved a great deal in his career at SMG, as a leader for our business, an ambassador within the industry and philanthropist for the community.”
“He has made huge difference to my career and personally I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with John and count him as a colleague and friend. We all wish him well with his new adventure.”
The chairman role in Australia will not be filled and Sintras’s global role will be taken up by US-based Kathy Kline, a current member of SMG’s Global Product Committee.
Nolan will continue reporting into SMG President, Asia Pacific Mike Amour.
Sintras’s departure date from SMG is yet to be announced.
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
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just think of all the media and industry events John can attend in a larger market!
all the very best Mr Sintras
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From a Media Buyer on AGL at Leo Burnett. to New York
As Paul Kelly wrote from “Little Things Big Things Grow”
Congratulations John
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John once told me that over his career he’d had to re-invent himself many times. This is just another great example of that. I admire it.
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When is Henry going to announce that Matt B is Moving to NYC?
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Congratulations John proud to have worked with such a industry legend and brilliant mind no doubt will continue to make a huge impact and influence on an even bigger global stage.
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