News UK has announced it has appointed Norm Johnston, global CEO of Mindshare FAST and Mindshare’s global chief digital officer, as CEO of Unruly.
Johnston will replace outgoing CEO and co-founder Sarah Wood, who announced in October she will be taking up the role of non-executive chair of Unruly’s board of directors.
Based in London, Johnston will report to Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK, which acquired Unruly in 2015.
“Norm’s data-driven approach and deep understanding of marketers’ requirements will be invaluable to Unruly clients and the wider News Corp business,” said Brooks.
“He’s a programmatic pioneer with truly global experience and I’m very much looking forward to working with him as we build on the milestones that Unruly has already achieved.”
Johnston has been involved in digital marketing since the 1990s, when he joined the industry’s first digital agency, Modem Media, which is credited with placing the first-ever banner ad. In 1997, Johnston launched Modem Media UK, one of Britain’s first digital agencies.
After Modem was acquired by Publicis in 2007, Norm Johnston WPP and GroupM’s Mindshare, and is currently the global chief digital officer, as well as the global CEO of its FAST business unit, a team of over 2,000 staff in 115 cities around the world delivering work for global clients such as Unilever, Nestle, and American Express.
“I am deeply grateful to Sarah Wood and to her co-founders, Scott Button and Matt Cooke, for their commitment to transforming advertising for the better,” added Brooks.
“They have built Unruly into a scaled and trusted advertising platform and I look forward to Sarah chairing the Unruly board and continuing to bring her passion and vision to the table.”
Commenting on his new role, Johnston said: “I’m really excited to be leading Unruly through the next chapter in its incredible journey. It’s a company with its own vibrant culture and great potential in a fast-moving marketplace. Throughout my career I’ve cared passionately about creativity and innovation within the media industry, and nowhere is that drive more apparent that at Unruly.
“The ad industry needs leaders like Unruly. From its breakthrough ad formats and phenomenal premium media footprint to its fierce commitment to brand safety and unique first-party data solutions, Unruly has led the way.
“When you combine all these ingredients with the passionate determination of Unrulies around the world, you have a company with unlimited potential for innovation and impact. I am looking forward to working with the teams around the world, as well as colleagues across News Corp, and I can’t wait to get started.”
