Sharb Farjami Takes the Helm as GroupM North America CEO

In a strategic move, GroupM, the media investment arm of WPP, has appointed Sharb Farjami as the new CEO for North America, effective immediately. Farjami, who previously served as the North America CEO for GroupM agency Wavemaker, is recognized for his instrumental role in positioning Wavemaker as a frontrunner in new business within GroupM and contributing significantly to the agency’s global new business accomplishments in 2023.

Christian Juhl, GroupM Global CEO, expressed confidence in Farjami’s leadership, emphasizing his hands-on and collaborative approach. Juhl highlighted Farjami’s diverse industry experience and the success of leveraging GroupM’s platform to enhance Wavemaker’s client outcomes. With over ten years of C-suite experience, Farjami has demonstrated a keen ability to drive growth, scale new media offerings, and lead technology-enabled organizations, previously holding senior leadership positions at Foxtel, News Corp, and Viacom.

Farjami, who joined Wavemaker in 2021, has a proven track record of operationalizing new capabilities and delivering competitive differentiation for clients. In his new role as GroupM North America CEO, he aims to position the company to assist clients in maximizing their media investments, elevating marketing roles, and surpassing business objectives.

This leadership transition sees Farjami taking over from Adam Gerhart, Mindshare’s Global CEO, who temporarily assumed additional responsibilities as Interim CEO for GroupM North America during the search for the next regional leader. While continuing to oversee Mindshare’s global operations, Gerhart ensures a smooth transition, with Farjami maintaining his oversight of Wavemaker in North America until a replacement is identified.

As GroupM embarks on the next phase of transformation, Farjami expresses a sense of privilege and responsibility, pledging to accelerate innovation on behalf of clients who entrust the organization to shape the future of the industry. The move aligns with GroupM’s commitment to providing innovative media solutions and maintaining a strong market position in North America.

GroupM operates as the foremost media investment company globally, with its North American presence represented by agencies such as Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and mSix&Partners. These entities collectively employ thousands of professionals and manage billions in annual media investments for leading global brands, including Adobe, Google, NBCUniversal, Unilever, and more.

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