Global sport and entertainment agency makes senior executive appointment to fuel U.S. growth strategy
Respected industry leader’s addition further sign of CSM’s continued commitment to North American market
CSM, the global sport and entertainment agency, announced today it has appointed senior industry leader Jeff Shifrin as CEO of its North America business, in a major signal to the market of its long-term commitment to the region. The U.S. in particular is a strategic priority for CSM’s growth as a full-service agency for existing and new clients in sport and entertainment.
A key focus of Shifrin’s role at CSM will be further building its consulting capability in the U.S., complementing the agency’s international consulting services to support both its global client brands based in the U.S. and those outside but active in North America. Shifrin will also lead and develop CSM’s Activation and Delivery business areas in the U.S. including JMI and JHE.
Shifrin, a highly respected industry figure, joins CSM after 18 years at Octagon Marketing Worldwide, where as President and COO he was responsible for the growth of the agency both in the U.S. and internationally.
Shifrin begins with CSM on August 1 and will report to CSM’s Chairman, North America, Harlan Stone, who he worked with previously and maintains a close working chemistry, and CSM Group CEO Zak Brown.
Brown commented: “Our decision to appoint an industry leader with Jeff’s stature and reputation reflects the importance of the U.S. to CSM and the priority we place on continuing to build an outstanding offer in sponsorship brand consulting in the North American market, as well as globally.”
Brown continued: “Jeff has an impressive track record. We know he will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to help us challenge the competition and serve our global clients with the best solutions in sponsorship.”
Shifrin said: “I’m delighted to be joining CSM. They are a world-class organization with great people and exciting ambitions. After 18 fantastic years at Octagon I’m now relishing my next career challenge: helping continue CSM’s growth in North America.”
Jeff was recently honored by the Sports Business Journal as one of the 50 most influential people in sports business.
Prior to Octagon, Shifrin spent seven years at Kraft Foods working on world-class brands in sports such as NASCAR, Major League Baseball, tennis, basketball, and the LPGA.
–ENDS–
Jeff Shifrin
Enquiries: Tim Bampton, CMO, CSM
Tel: +44 20 7593 5239 | Mbl: +44 7468 714614 | tim.bampton@csm.com
Notes to Editors
CSM helps build businesses, brands and organizations through the power of sport and entertainment. CSM is active in every major global sport through world-class services from strategy to execution. The agency operates on every continent with more than 800 people across 26 offices and is part of Chime Communications. For more information, please go to www.csm.com
Chime is a sport, entertainment and communications group present in six continents, 20 countries and 32 cities. The group comprises: CSM in sport and entertainment; the VCCP Partnership in marketing communications; OPEN Health in healthcare communications, public relations and market access; CIE in market research; Good Relations, Teamspirit and Harvard in PR; and the Chime Specialist Group for communications in specialist market places. For more information, please go to www.chimegroup.com
