Mark Kaline, global media manager of Ford, left the automaker Monday. He was one of the staff cuts Ford announced in June—to cut 15% of its white-collar staff by 8/1.
According to AdAge, Kaline worked on deals such as integrating Ford vehicles into Fox TV’s "24" and "American Idol." Kaline is chairman of the Association ANA’s TV Committee and serves on the board of directors of the Audit Bureau of Circulation.
Meanwhile, WPP confirms with RBR/TVBR Phil Cowdell, WPP’s Global Media Director and CEO of Ford Media Services across WPP’s GroupM media agencies, is officially out as of today (he mentioned to us the move would be coming) and will move to Chicago to become MindShare’s Global Team Leader on some key accounts as of 9/7. They are currently setting up interviews for the new CEO of Ford Media Services.
Since August 2007, Phil has also been supporting Satish Korde (WPP’s Global Clients Director) as "International FMC Team Leader – WPP". In this latest role, Phil transitioned from leading just the media teams, to also taking on responsibility for all WPP agencies that service Ford Motor Company assignments around the world (at Ogilvy, JWT, Y&R and Wunderman). The only exception refers to “Team Detroit” which will operate in parallel.
RBR/TVBR observation: We assume Kaline’s role will be absorbed into WPP’s Ford Media Services. The new CEO, needless to say, will have a tremendous job in front of them—to help Ford move product in these tough times. The role is charged with managing in excess of 200 media planning and buying assignments across Ford.
