MAGNET Global Network taps Melissa Lentz as first Chief Executive Officer

Melissa A. Lentz has been named to the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer of the MAGNET Global Network – the Marketing & Advertising Global Network of leading independent advertising agencies.

MAGNET is comprised of 40 member agencies that collectively serve more than 800 clients and bill nearly $3 billion annually from offices in major U.S. markets and global locations around the world.

Lentz comes to MAGNET after launching her own management consulting firm, M. Hatter Consulting, in New York in 2014, and serving in senior management positions at several large, global agencies. She takes over management of the Network, following the retirement of Cheri Gmiter, who served as executive director for 13 years.

As CEO, Lentz will drive strategy, promote the network, aid in worldwide agency recruitment, and advance educational programming. She’ll report to MAGNET’s Chairman, Scott Morgan, president of Brunner, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Lentz’s firm, M. Hatter Consulting, which she will continue to manage, specialises in organisational change management and growth plans for agencies, brands and media companies.

According to Joanne Kim, outgoing MAGNET Chairman and Chief Idea officer at Marcus Thomas in Cleveland: “Melissa is tremendously well-suited to help take MAGNET into a fast-paced and ever-evolving future. She has a wealth of experience in change management, business expansion, strategic planning, digital program development, and team building with large agencies and brands around the world.”

Lentz added that: “The mission of MAGNET and energy of its members reminds me why I joined the industry. The changes agencies currently face have challenged the industry’s identity and agencies’ relationships with clients and one other. MAGNET represents an antidote to this madness. The network has the potential to attract and unify the world’s next generation of independent agency owners across all capabilities, categories and audience verticals. I’m very excited by what the future holds for us.”

Prior to launching M. Hatter, MelissaMRY/MR Youth was acquired by LBi and Publicis. She began her agency career at Ogilvy and later served as a management supervisor at Tribal DDB.

Lentz is a 2016 AWNY GenNext Award recipient honouring female trailblazers in the marketing industry. She frequently guest lectures for Georgetown University’s Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications program, and serves on the grants committee for the New York Women’s Foundation. Lentz is a graduate of Duke University, resides in New York City and is a native of Upper St. Clair, a Pittsburgh suburb.

Source: MAGNET Global Network

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