Starcom (media agency)

Advertising and marketing company based in Chicago, USA

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StarcomIndustry| Advertising & Marketing

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Founded| 2000
Headquarters| 35 West Wacker Drive,

Chicago, Illinois

Number of locations

| 110

Areas served

| Global

Key people

| Michael Epstein, US & Global CEO

Number of employees

| 8,000
Parent| Publicis
Website| www.starcomww.com

Starcom is an international media network, the third-largest communications group globally, part of France’s Publicis, with headquarters in Chicago.

## History

[edit]

The global holding company Starcom Mediavest Group was formed in 2000.[1] Jack Klues, who had been the Chief Executive Officer of Starcom Worldwide, was named SMG’s first CEO upon its formation. Former CEO Laura Desmond became one of the business world’s youngest CEOs ever when she was named to the position in 2008.[2]

In recent years, SMG has had partnerships with companies such as Facebook, Twitter,[3] YouTube, Acxiom, Tencent and more involving data, analytics and "technology-fueled creativity".

SMG also reorganized into 3 divisions—Connections (media brands), Content (creative assets), and Tech solutions (RUN, extech)—to reflect the fact that it now derives more than 50% of its business from digital, content, and data/analytics.

## Resources

[edit]

SMG Performance Marketing: Full-service media agency.

LiquidThread: branded entertainment content and on-ground activation specialists.

MRY: Full-service digital creative agency.[4]

Relevant24: Real-time content agency creating multi-media branded content marketing[5]

RUN: Mobile-first data management and programmatic buying platform for the digital world[clarification needed] that executes cross-device campaigns across multiple formats, including display and video .[6]

Data & Analytics:

Extech: Offers new marketplace products and services.

SPORTS at SMG: Sports and event marketing, including strategy, planning, rights acquisition and activation to SMG clients.

VivaKi: Programmatic advertising and media buying

IP Pixel: digital creative agency. IP Pixel was founded in 2003 by Nicholas Yecke, John Rafferty, and Jen Schreiber then members of Starcom IP - Starcom WorldWide, held by the Publicis Groupe. In 2007, Publicis restructured Pixel into a fully integrated part of its Starcom MediaVest Group.[7]

## Employees and Locations

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SMG employs roughly 7,000 people[8] in 49 locations worldwide.[9]

## References

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1. ^ "Mediavest, Starcom Joined In Powerhouse". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. May 3, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
2. ^ Kirk, Jim (June 10, 2008). "Renetta McCann stepping down as Starcom MediaVest CEO". www.targetmarketnews.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
3. ^ "Twitter, Starcom Mediavest Group Sign Huge Ad Deal". AdWeek. April 23, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
4. ^ Tadena, Nathalie (September 24, 2014). "Digital Agency MRY to Join Starcom MediaVest Umbrella". WSJ. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
5. ^ "Publicis acquires real-time content business Relevant24 | M&M Global". mandmglobal.com. December 12, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
6. ^ "Publicis Groupe Acquires Programmatic Platform RUN | AdExchanger". AdExchanger. October 28, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
7. ^ "MediaPost Publications - SMG Eyes 'Agency Of The Future,' Expands Creative Services Role - 19 December 2007". Archived from the original on February 27, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
8. ^ "Global Presence". Starcom. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
9. ^ "Locations". Starcom. Retrieved January 3, 2023.