±±¾©Èü³µpk10

- Optimedia has hired Greg Grimmer, the former client services director of CIA Medianetwork, as its new managing partner.

Grimmer joins from New PHD, where he has been working on a project basis since leaving CIA last autumn. As managing partner, Grimmer will work alongside the existing partners, Simon Mathews, Greg Turzynski, Mark Waugh and Phil Talbot.

He will handle a portfolio of business including Go, Tropicana and Renault. On Renault, Grimmer will work alongside Talbot, who has been handed a brief to develop Optimedia's relationship with the client.

Grimmer's responsibilities will also include working with the other partners to manage the company and grow its business base, as it aims to develop into broader-based communications areas such as sports, event and broadcast sponsorship.

At CIA, Grimmer worked on Microsoft, Daewoo and the Wrangler/Lee Jeans media accounts. According to Mathews, Grimmer's experience, particularly in the car market, marked him out as the ideal candidate for the job.

"Greg is intelligent with bags of attitude and will help us to further improve, differentiate and diversify our business," Mathews added.

Grimmer said that he was confident of the potential for the Optimedia brand. "In 1998 they surprised many industry observers by appearing on major pitch lists such as Lloyds-TSB, KFC and BUPA. Having established the momentum, I have no doubt that 1999 will be an exciting year for Optimedia."

Grimmer left CIA last autumn when the agency overhauled its structure and management line-up in a bid to stem a flow of account losses.