MediaPost Agency Daily
By Larissa Faw, May 23, 2017

Perry Ellis International (PEI) has selected Media Storm as its media AOR leading all media planning, buying and analytics for the fashion company’s portfolio of brands including Perry Ellis, Original Penguin by Munsingwear, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Rafaella, Cubavera, Ben Hogan, Jantzen, Callaway, PGA TOUR and Jack Nicklaus.

PEI spent $5.88 million on advertising in the U.S. in 2016, down from $6.65 million in 2015, according to Kantar Media.

The incumbent agency was PGR Media.

“We are focused on connecting with our target consumers where they live across the digital landscape, and Media Storm’s data driven approach will enable us to reach and activate them, bringing both new potential customers as well as deepening engagement with our loyal fans,” says Lisa Kauffman, CMO, PEI.

“Our goal is to map the plan to their business goals and not write straight media plans,” says Craig Woerz, managing partner, Media Storm. “We will be liquid in our approach and look for a less is more strategy that drives frequency to the right potential customers for each brand.”

PEI will also soon be announcing a new creative agency partner that will work closely with Media Storm on integrated campaigns, says Kauffman. Currently, most of the brand’s creative is handled by PEI’s in-house agency.

The client has also recently invested more in photography and video production to help it create more videos for third-party and online e-commerce sites.

Innovative Agency Leader and Business Executive Charged With Increasing Media Planning and Buying Agency’s Growth

NEW YORK, NY (May 1, 2017) — Media Storm, the award-winning media planning and buying agency, today announced Jeremiah Rosen, former President of SapientRazorfish-owned Campfire, has joined as the agency’s Chief Revenue Officer, to expand revenue streams across the entire company’s portfolio. In addition to being charged with growing the agency’s broader revenue base, he will be driving new business for Media Storm’s exclusive data-driven tools—JubaPlus, the agency’s data sciences and audience targeting solution, and Ninety9X, its transparent programmatic platform—as well as Media Storm’s social media arm 3Degrees. Rosen will lead these functions from the company’s New York City office, reporting directly to Media Storm CEO Christina Norman.

“Jeremiah brings end-to-end business savvy, broad industry expertise, and far reaching relationships across the media and marketing spectrum that will be priceless to Media Storm as we expand our client base,” said Norman.

“Media Storm has made an indelible mark as a trailblazer in entertainment and retail media, and I am thrilled to be joining the leadership team,” said Rosen. “As the agency now directs their cultural know-how towards other verticals, I look forward to expanding the agency’s business portfolio and voice. They are a true partner to their clients and not a vendor—and that is not easily found these days”

During his decade-long tenure as President of Campfire, Rosen secured client relationships with HBO, Verizon, Captain Morgan, Warner Bros., Ketel One, Showtime, Infiniti, and other world-class brands, building a nationally recognized agency that received widespread industry recognition. He also led the agency’s acquisition by SapientNitro in 2014, as the agency’s lead partner and executive.

Rosen earned a B.A. degree from Dickinson College, and holds two degrees from Syracuse University: a J.D. from the University’s College of Law, and a M.A. from SU’s Newhouse School of Communications.

Veteran Advertising Executive to Lead Media Execution and Brand Strategy Initiatives for Clients From Across the Entertainment, Travel, Retail, CPG & Healthcare Sectors

NEW YORK, NY (April 24, 2017) — Media Storm, the award-winning media planning and buying agency, today announced that Steve Piluso has joined as Executive Director and Head of Media and Integration, a new role that will oversee the entire agency’s media efforts, leveraging new campaign approaches and branding strategies. He will also be responsible for integration of Media Storm’s exclusive data-driven tools—including JubaPlus, the agency’s micro-segmenting solution, and Ninety9X, its transparent programmatic platform—to deliver highly targeted solutions for clients. Piluso, formerly Global Client President at Dentsu Aegis, helming the Microsoft account, will be based at the company’s New York City office, reporting directly to Media Storm CEO Christina Norman.

“Steve has a strong track-record in marrying creative thinking with data and deep consumer and media insights to drive significant results for brand marketers,” said Norman. “His expertise in blending the distinct practices of media planning and brand strategy will drive greater client results.”

“Media Storm has long been a go-to agency for entertainment brands—and has recently taken their cultural acumen and talent for data to the next level, creating successful media programs for marketers across the spectrum,” said Piluso. “I am excited to join Media Storm at this critical juncture, as the team continues to hone its skills, expand its capabilities, uncover new audiences, and meet a wide range of client demands.”

At Dentsu Aegis since 2015, Piluso served as the global owner for the holding company relationship with Microsoft, setting the business vision for account services and revenue growth. Prior to Dentsu Aegis, he was Head of Activation and Media, U.S. at Omnicom’s RAPP.

Earlier, he spent 3 years at Omnicom’s PHD in several key roles, including Executive Vice President, Managing Director of PHD’s Eastern Region, and Chief Strategy Officer. Piluso also spent over 9 years at GroupM’s flagship agency Mindshare, where, among other positions, he served as Managing Director, Mindshare Entertainment, leading content strategies and solutions for the branded entertainment unit.

Piluso is a graduate of Boston College with dual B.A. degrees in English and Philosophy.

ML Search Partners, a top executive search firm focused on the media and entertainment sectors, managed the Media Storm Executive Director and Head of Media and Integration search.

Media Storm CTO Charlie Fiordalis writes: Why YouTube Brand Safety Still Requires a Human Touch
April 4, 2017

It’s the number one rule in horror films. Don’t split up, there is safety in numbers. Much of the digital media industry has gone along with that. We’ve been thinking that there is safety in numbers, that a machine is doing the work in digital that humans do in other media to provide brand safety. But bad things have been getting through and for many brands, it’s a real fear that their ad will show up before an extremist, very brand-unsafe video.

Media Storm CTO Charlie Fiordalis weighs in with DIGIDAY on YouTube’s ‘crisis’:

‘They get a lot of PR value’: Agencies say YouTube ‘crisis’ is about negotiations and saving face
April 6, 2017 by Ross Benes

There is a lot of showmanship surrounding YouTube’s recent ad “scandal” since brands want to take power back from Google and agencies want to show their brands that they take brand safety seriously.

Click for the full article.