DM Wrap-Up: week of March 2

 FUSE Marketing Group ramps up for new client wins, more creative work and ongoing services for Toronto 2015 PanAm/ParaPan Games

FUSE Marketing Group (www.fusemg.com) is announcing nine new hires to expand its breadth and strength in account services, creative, digital, strategic partnerships and administration.  Joining the agency ranks are Lisa Stephenson as account director, Saira Sabri as account manager, Alan Koutsaris in strategic partnerships, Nicole Forten as marketing manager, Taylor O’Neill as account coordinator, Nicole Black as digital project manager, Anthea Mislan as art director, Katrina Riccio as copywriter and Rachael McEvoy as receptionist and administrative assistant.

“We are excited about bringing these exceptional talents to the FUSE team, each of whom bring fresh insight and experience,” said Stephen Brown, president, FUSE Marketing Group.  “We have had a stellar start to 2015 with new clients and new creative, and we have big plans and expectations this year.  These hires are rooted in our mandate for data driven creative.”

New clients, more work, growing company equals new talent
Sparking the influx of talent was a significant increase in business activity and the agency’s commitment to continue to provide first-rate client services.  The amount of creative FUSE delivers has also grown with existing clients including the Toronto 2015 PanAm/Para Pan Games.

Lisa Stephenson joins FUSE as account director whose expertise developing strategic, go-to-market plans across multiple channels including TV, print, digital and social will lead the brand development and digital strategy for client, ChangeIt as well as Cisco’s CSR and digital content strategy.  Saira Sabri joins as account manager and is an integrated experiential marketing specialist with more than six years in the industry. Working across all channels within the overall marketing mix, Saira’s clients include CIBC, Canadian Tire and Great West Life.  Taylor O’Neill comes to FUSE as a graduate of the agency’s intern program and as account coordinator on the CIBC team, working on a wide variety of campaigns with a current focus on DM.

Nicole Black joins FUSE as digital project manager for clients including CIBC, Hyundai, Cisco, Kruger, Interac, Canadian Tire, ChangeIt, True Patriot Love, and NABS.  She will execute projects with internal teams and external vendors ensuring top quality control, project management of budgets and deadlines.  Anthea Mislan joins FUSE as art director, leading the visual redesign of a website for FUSE partner, VetSuccess, that provides client data reports tracking the conduct of their business.  Katrina Riccio joins FUSE as copywriter and French translator for clients Kruger, CIBC, Interac, and NABS.

Alan Koutsaris is a proven sales professional and will lead FUSE’s strategic partnerships to drive the agency’s engagements with top tier brands.  He will grow and manage a pipeline of qualified leads through a variety of channels while using FUSE’s CRM platform.  Nicole Forten joins FUSE in the newly created role of marketing manager overseeing the creation of sales and marketing collateral and working closely with the agency’s partners in sales and business development, including PR AOR, The Siren Group Inc.  Nicole is focused on delivering compelling sales and marketing content while running demand generation campaigns for both prospects and customers.  Rachael McEvoy is the new welcoming face of FUSE as receptionist and administrative assistant.

“It’s not by accident that we’ve welcomed a former summer intern, Taylor O’Neill to the FUSE family,” added Mr. Brown.  “We are known for our mentoring and feel it’s important to give students a well-grounded understanding of our industry and a structured experience that adds significant value to their education.”

gShift Unveils Custom Reporting Dashboards for Web Presence Analytics

gShift, a leading provider of web presence analytics software for agencies and brands, today introduced custom dashboards and reporting to help marketers better visualize big data associated with web presence performance in search and social.

Data visualization is critical to marketers who need to quickly analyze, compare and interpret multiple data points related to the visibility of owned and earned content in search, social and mobile channels. Custom dashboards enable the selection and display of only the data required to make actionable decisions and track progress. gShift is also introducing data insights whereby data captured will be analyzed and actionable steps designed to boost visibility, traffic, conversions or other user-defined goals will be suggested.

“CMO’s and other marketers have enough big data from their digital marketing campaigns,” says gShift’s Cofounder & CEO, Krista LaRiviere, “Now they need to be able to gain insights into where to best focus their attention and resources for optimal ROI.  gShift’s custom dashboards will help deliver those insights.”

Data currently available through gShift’s custom reporting framework includes:

• Organic keyword positions
• Average monthly keyword search volumes
• Share of search
• Website traffic
• Website conversions
• Social signals
• Backlinks
• Competitive Intelligence

gShift’s dashboard framework also supports the integration of relevant, accessible third-party data such as analytics, reviews or CRM data.

Additional information and a case study detailing how a gShift client has used dashboards to organize and uncover actionable data and insights can be found at http://www.gshiftlabs.com/web-presence-analytics/custom-dashboards/

Sheila Witt joins Twist Marketing™ as Account Services Manager

Twist Marketing™ is pleased to announce the hiring of Sheila Witt to help further develop its growing portfolio of regional and national accounts.

“Ms. Witt brings nearly 20 years of media experience in all aspects of television production, radio, print and out-of-home advertising,” explains Managing Director, Catherine Proulx. “Sheila comes to us from Pattison Outdoor where she held the position of Senior Account Executive. At Pattison, she was instrumental in acquiring numerous, large corporate and retail accounts. We look forward to Sheila continuing her successful track record of new business development at Twist Marketing™.”

“I am excited by my new challenge at Twist Marketing™ and look forward to working with the team to further develop their already extensive client base and services,” says Witt. “I feel fortunate to be joining such a respected group of professionals within the branding, engagement and communications industry, who pride themselves on creating and delivering top quality services.”

Ms. Witt holds a Communication and Media Studies/Radio and Television Arts diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She will service Twist Marketing™’s regional and national clients from the agency’s Calgary office.

Simren Deogun Promoted to Director, Digital Innovation at Stephen Thomas Ltd

Stephen Thomas Ltd (ST),  has announced that Simren Deogun has been promoted to Director, Digital Innovation.

In her new role, which is a promotion from her previous position as Senior Account Manager, Digital & Marketing Services, where she was the account lead for a long roster of such notable clients as MSF Canada, Cuso International and Kids Help Phone to name a few, Deogun is now responsible for working with ST’s clients to ensure they’re thinking strategically about their digital channels. Simren has a proven track record of attracting new donors and supporters to her clients’ cause while making sure existing donors feel even closer to the organizations they’re supporting.

“My goal,” says Deogun, “is to help our clients exceed their goals. There’s so much more sophistication and understanding of the value of the digital space among charities now than there was even a short time ago. We want to help our clients build on that momentum with strategic thought-leadership and creativity, whether it’s a purely digital play or a fully integrated campaign.”

“Over her four-plus years at ST,” says ST President Neil Gallaiford, “Simren has very quickly established herself as a bona fide expert in digital fundraising, advocacy and marketing for the non-profit sector. We’re very pleased to see her step up and assume an even more important strategic role for our clients and within the Canadian non-profit sector, at large.”

Deogun’s new position is effective immediately.