Brian Lesser to lead AT&T’s new advertising & analytics business
NEW YORK and DALLAS — Global media-buying agency GroupM announced Friday morning Brian Lesser, CEO of GroupM North America, is leaving the company for a position at AT&T.
GroupM’s director of global communications, David Grabert, emailed Cartt.ca a company statement regarding Lesser’s departure, in which the company said Lesser had been a key contributor to its 24/7 Real Media and Xaxis programmatic advertising business units, prior to becoming CEO of GroupM North America in 2015.
“We are sorry to see him go, but wish him every success in his new role. We will immediately start the search for a replacement. In the meantime, Kelly Clark (GroupM’s global CEO) will assume Brian’s responsibilities and work closely with him and the GroupM North America ExCo (executive committee) to ensure a smooth transition for our clients, our agencies and our people,” the GroupM statement said.
In a press release issued Friday, AT&T announced Lesser has been hired to create and lead an advertising and analytics business that will use AT&T’s customer data and growing content assets. Lesser will be CEO of the new business unit and report to AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson.
“Brian is a terrific executive and one of the best there is in harnessing technology and data to create targeted advertising,” Stephenson said in the press release. “Once we complete our acquisition of Time Warner Inc., we believe there is an opportunity to build an automated advertising platform that can do for premium video and TV advertising what the search and social media companies have done for digital advertising.”
Lesser was quoted in the AT&T press release as saying: “Advertising is evolving from broad messages delivered through traditional media channels, to customized, individual content coordinated across all connected devices. AT&T has amazing assets for creating engaging advertising experiences for consumers. I am excited to work with Randall and the entire AT&T team to build a world-class advertising and insights business.”
