A former industry analyst will take over the top job at BBDO’s interactive agency @tmosphere, following several changes in the company’s management.
@tmosphere co-founder, chief executive officer and president Susan Pinkwater will be leaving after a year at the Alley-based shop, and will go into consulting, according to the company. Former financial analyst Drew Ianni will assume the post in her stead.
Ianni joins @tmosphere from financial house Lazard Freres, where he served as an equity research analyst. Previously, Ianni served as an analyst at Internet consultancy Jupiter Communications, now Jupiter Media Metrix, where his clients included Procter & Gamble, General Motors, and CBS. Before joining Jupiter, Ianni served as an account manager at I-shop CKS.
Before founding @tmosphere, Pinkwater served as a senior consultant at Omnicom’s Communicade group. Pinkwater joined Communicade from Agency.com — a Communicade company — where she was director of corporate relationships.
Spokespeople for the company said Monday morning that @tmosphere, and its parent BBDO New York, had been pleased with the job done by Pinkwater, and that the changes were a result of a company entering its second year as a larger firm, with a greater reputation.
“Susan Pinkwater helped @tmosphere grow into a full-service digital agency capable of top quality interactive services,” said John Osborn, executive vice president and integrated marketing director for BBDO New York. “In Drew Ianni, we have retained one of the most knowledgeable and respected experts in the world of Internet commerce and communications. For the past five years, he has tracked the evolution taking place in the online world.
“This optimally and uniquely positions him to lead @tmosphere into this new era of growth,” Osborn said.
The company reported other management changes as well. Co-founder Andreas Combuechen was bumped up to managing director and chief creative officer, filling a position left vacant by Mike Campbell, after his move to a creative director position at BBDO New York.
The company’s third co-founder, Fran Powell will take over the chief strategy officer post. Formerly director of Internet strategy for the agency, Powell joined @tmosphere following a 15-year stint at BBDO New York, where she recently served as a group media planning director.
Many interactive agencies have been feeling the crunch of a difficult ad spending market, as dot-com customers falter and traditional advertisers are slow to make moves online. I-shop Xceed this week said more restructuring charges were due after it reported a net loss of $139.2 million, or $5.82 per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter ending August 31. U.S. Interactive also recently reported management changes, and marchFirst said it planned to cut 1,000 jobs.
Despite volatility in much of the industry, spokespeople reiterated that @tmosphere’s executive changes would serve only to take the firm to “the next level.”
“The management changes herald @tmospheres next phase of development and recognize individual contributions to our business,” Osborn said.
Pinkwater could not be reached for comment at press time.
