Media agency Bohemia has hired former Mamamia chief operating officer (COO) and ex-Mi9 exec, Marc Barnett, as its new COO.
Barnett, who has taken on array of jobs across Mi9 since 2006 – from senior sales executive, rising up the ranks to become head of performance media, then director of commercial operations, and also COO for six months, was most recently at Mamamia as its COO - for seven months.
Barnett took on the Mamamia role in January this year after departing Mi9 last November, over what was rumoured to be tensions with the management regime at Nine Entertainment Co and the direction it wanted to take the online publisher.
Bohemia said the newly created position sees Barnett lead all operational aspects of the business including client service, commercials and investment.
Bohemia said Barnett, who has more than 12 years of experience including APAC sales director with Microsoft, is acknowledged as an “expert in the programmatic space” having launched the Microsoft Advertising Exchange in Australia and being the inaugural chairman of APEX.
Managing partner at Bohemia, Brett Dawson, said: “As we have grown over the last year, welcoming new clients and diversified talent to the Bohemia family, we have been looking to recruit a leader and operational expert. Someone who understands the business of media and where it is heading, who had established a reputation for brilliant client service and who has an outstanding track record of personal and team development.”
Dawson went on to say that Barnett has “lived and breathed the growth and success of ninemsn/Mi9”.
“The COO is a new position that I am confident will elevate productivity and quality of output in all aspects of our business,” Dawson added
Barnett said he's looking forward to helping guide the business out of adolescence and into adulthood.
“I am very pleased to have found a leadership team to join that is so closely aligned to my own personal values and who puts the needs of staff and clients at the forefront,” Barnett said.
His appointment is effective from 4 January, with Barnett splitting his time for the remainder of 2015 between Bohemia and pre-existing consulting.
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