Stacy DeRiso Appointed Initiative Brand President to Lead Agency Globally

June 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT

IPG Mediabrands, the media holding company within the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), today announced the appointment of Stacy DeRiso as Brand President of Initiative, leading the agency globally.

Over the last few years, Stacy has been instrumental in helping to shape Initiative's vision and strategy, particularly through the "Fame & Flow" framework. She has a proven track record, deep understanding of Initiative and its clients, and a strong collaborative history with Initiative leadership worldwide.

"We are so happy for Stacy and we are confident that her leadership and strategic vision, combined with her deep understanding of Initiative's brand and culture, will ensure continued success for our clients, our people and the agency,” said Eileen Kiernan, Global CEO of IPG Mediabrands.

This appointment follows Dimitri Maex's decision to leave his role as Global CEO of Initiative and Global President, Mediabrands later this year to pursue a new opportunity.

"I'm grateful for the strong partnership I shared with Dimitri, and I'm excited to build upon the successful foundation we've created together,” said Stacy, newly named Global Brand President of Initiative. She adds, “As I step into this new role, we will ensure the continuity of 'Fame & Flow' to drive innovative and effective solutions for our clients as part of the IPG Mediabrands family.”

Eileen Kiernan, Global CEO of IPG Mediabrands, added, “Dimitri has served IPG Mediabrands and Initiative with dedication for the past 6-years, and we are thankful for his leadership. His contributions have been important to our success, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

About IPG Mediabrands:

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). IPG Mediabrands manages over $47 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients across its full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its award-winning specialized business units Healix, KINESSO, MAGNA, Mediabrands Content Studio, Orion Holdings, Rapport, and the IPG Media Lab. IPG Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors including automotive, personal finance, consumer product goods (CPG), pharma, health and wellness, entertainment, financial services, energy, toys and gaming, direct to consumer and e-commerce, retail, hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and beauty. The company employs more than 18,000 diverse marketing communication professionals in more than 130 countries. Learn more at www.ipgmediabrands.com.