UM appoints director of projects and integration

Media communications agency UM has appointed Timo Kugler in a new national role as director of projects and integration.

The announcement:

Media communications agency UM has opened a new position titled Director of Projects and Integration and has hired Timo Kugler to run the new discipline.

Effective immediately Kugler will be leading the coordination of large-scale projects involving UM’s clients as well as complex client initiatives that involve other businesses within the IPG Mediabrands group. Supporting the assignment will be new project management systems as well as increased training for UM staff to further improve their management of large logistical tasks involving internal and external collaboration and stakeholder management.

Kugler was appointed to the role by UM Australia CEO Mat Baxter, who trialed the new position for three months before making it permanent. “Nowadays communications spans so many disparate but interdependent elements that media agencies are increasingly expected to be project management businesses too. What became very apparent during our trial was that the agency and our work benefited enormously from having someone with expert project management capabilities embedded in the company,” said Baxter.

“With Timo’s help we will deliver an even higher level of precision when it comes to the rollout of logistically complex initiatives for clients. This is one of the newest and most important craft skills to emerge in the new world media agency and we intend to lead the market and invest aggressively behind it,” Baxter said.

Prior to joining UM Kugler has held senior roles in sales, strategy and business development with leading media businesses in Australia and Europe. His career expertise spans television, digital, content production and event marketing.

Source: RMG Communications press release.