Former Kraft Foods VP Global Media Mark Stewart joins Company as
Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
Greenwich, CT – May 17, 2012 – Townsquare Media, LLC announced today that Mark Stewart has joined the Company’s management team as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, a newly created position. Mr. Stewart will be responsible for overall positioning of the Company’s diversified assets, comprising 244 radio stations across 51 small to mid-sized markets (upon completion of pending transactions), a live event business and some of the nation’s fastest growing digital properties including Taste of Country and PopCrush. In this newly-created position Mr. Stewart will work with the Company’s business, marketing and sales teams, as well as its advertising and agency customers, to identify new strategic partnerships and business opportunities to further accelerate the Company’s growth. Mr. Stewart will report to Townsquare Media’s Chairman and CEO, Steven Price.
“We are extremely excited that Mark Stewart is joining our management team. Mark is a recognized leader in our industry with an incredible depth and breadth of marketing and media knowledge across all media platforms and product categories,” commented Mr. Price. “His blue chip media agency and client experience will be invaluable in helping us continue to assemble and deliver a portfolio of compelling media assets that connect and resonate with our audiences and drive activation and growth for our advertisers.”
Previously Mr. Stewart was at Kraft Foods, where he held the position of Vice President Global Media overseeing Kraft’s sizeable global media budget. In his three years with Kraft he contemporized their strategic media approach, drove a dramatic increase in digital investment, and segmented media deployment more effectively to drive brand growth. Prior to Kraft Foods Mr. Stewart was Managing Director of OMD New York where he managed the networks’ largest single office and directed the global VISA account. Under his leadership the office saw significant growth, winning major new assignments from Bank of America, Lowes and Best Buy. The agency was also recognized for its innovative work and won a Gold Lion at Cannes for the Dorito’s Crash the Superbowl campaign. Mr. Stewart’s previous experience also includes 10 years with IPG where he held the positions of EVP, Chief Strategy Officer, Universal McCann Worldwide and EVP, Managing Director Universal McCann North America. He also was a founding partner in Media First International Inc., an independent media agency start-up.
“I am thrilled to be joining Townsquare Media at such an exciting time in their growth,” said Mr. Stewart. “In a very short time they have assembled a wonderful portfolio of media brands that are loved by consumers and deliver results for advertisers at the local, regional and national level. The continued build out of their brands across radio, digital, mobile and live event platforms from a strong and growing base of radio stations will allow them to deliver even richer experiences for local-to-national audiences as well as more effective multi-media opportunities for advertiser and agency partners.”
Among Mr. Stewart’s industry accolades and achievements, he has been named “Media Director of the Year” by Advertising Age and Adweek Magazine, “Media Maven” by Advertising Age and “Global Innovator” by Internationalist Magazine. He has served as a Media Policy Committee member for both the 4A’s and the ANA, served as Jury President for The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, and is a member of the Wharton School Future of Advertising Global Advisory Board.
About Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media, LLC is a local media and entertainment company that owns and operates radio, digital and live event properties. The Company specializes in creating and distributing original entertainment, music and lifestyle content. Townsquare Media owns 244 radio stations and companion websites in 51 small to mid-sized markets (upon completion of pending transactions), over 300 live music and non-music events and certain national digital properties including Taste of Country, Ultimate Classic Rock, Loudwire, The FW, GuySpeed, Diffuser.fm and PopCrush, as well as eCommerce business Seize the Deal. Funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management are the Company’s largest equity holder. www.townsquaremediagroup.com