As CEO, Shelley is responsible for setting and advocating the strategic vision for the Canadian market, ensuring the highest standard of client service throughout the enterprise, strengthening existing client relationships and opening new ones. With over twenty-five years of experience on both client and agency sides, Shelley is a people-first leader with the skillset to push her team to continually innovate. Shelley has been part of the IPG Mediabrands family since joining UM in December 2008 to lead J3, the dedicated Johnson & Johnson agency team. In 2009, she was instrumental in launching the UM Canada office. Shelley went on to lead UM Canada to unprecedented industry accolades and remarkable business success, including being recognized as Media Leader of the Year.

Ben brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role, with more than 18 years in the industry and significant client-side expertise. Since joining UM in 2015, Ben has consistently infused his clients and team with enthusiasm and dedication. As EVP Client Business Partner, Ben drove successful new business acquisitions for UM and managed critical clients in Canada. His talent and passion earned him and his team multiple awards, recognizing the exceptional work and results created in partnership with his clients. Before joining UM, Ben held various client-side positions at major brands, including Nike, Coca-Cola, and Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Helen is CEO of Initiative, and as such, leads a growing Canadian team to deliver on the promise of helping brands take the initiative in culture. Applying her expertise as a former client, Helen values diverse skill sets. This has inspired her to build a team of passionate experts with diverse backgrounds in marketing, media, tech, experiential and sales. As a dedicated leader, Helen is personally involved and invested in helping clients navigate the new media landscape through cultural connections that drive meaningful business outcomes. Under her leadership, Initiative was named Strategy’s 2019 Media Agency of the Year. More accolades followed later that same year, when Helen was awarded Media Leader of the Year. 

As CEO of Media Experts, Karel is responsible for leading the agency and its clients into the next frontier of media solutions. An insightful leader with over twenty years of experience in digital media and an extensive agency background, Karel has an impressive track record for evolving advanced business solutions and delivering high-yield results for some of Canada’s most successful brands.Karel has been part of the IPG family since 2007 when he joined Media Expert’s burgeoning digital division. During his 15-year tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the agency as a digital innovator. In early 2022, Karel was appointed President of KINESSO Canada, IPG Mediabrands’ technology-driven performance marketing agency, where his mandate included stewardship of Matterkind, a strategic partner in creating lifetime customer value across addressable activation.

Matt Ramella is the Canada CEO of KINESSO within IPG Mediabrands. He oversees a passionate and diverse group of technology-driven specialists who deliver integrated digital activation & performance solutions designed to move client business forward. Matt provides strategic counsel and expertise in growth-driving services for the top brands both globally and in Canada that include cross-channel media activation, digital platforms & intelligence solutions, data & technology capabilities, and future-forward commerce offerings.

Matt brings over twenty years of multifaceted experience in media and marketing, having held various agency, ad tech consulting, and client-side roles. In his previous role as President of Reprise Canada, Matt grew Reprise Digital to become Canada’s leading performance marketing agency by helping brands build and accelerate the flow of customers along their path to purchase.

Emily is a galvanizing leader and relationship builder who people love to work with and for; she possesses a resourceful yet highly commercial mindset that thrives in a collaborative environment. With a results-driven approach to business while consistently championing innovation, Emily has a knack for delivering unparalleled client experiences. She is responsible for leading the vision of Orion Canada to its next phase of evolution, both organically and expanding into new areas of expertise. Prior to joining Orion Canada in August 2019, Emily was VP, Partnerships at IPG Mediabrands’ sister agency, Initiative. She has worked closely with many iconic brands over the course of her career including Canadian Tire, Amazon, Cirque du Soleil, Red Bull, IMAX, Joe Fresh, Pfizer, Under Armour, Volkswagen and Audi. Her affinity for innovation has been recognized through numerous industry award wins and she actively volunteers as a mentor helping to shape the next generation of marketers.   

Together with her team, Cynthia delivers best-in-class content focusing on branded content opportunities and experiences, digital content that drives performance and engagement, as well as brand-led long- and short-form original content. A media industry veteran, she has over fifteen years of experience working across connection planning, performance marketing, and content creation for some of Canada’s biggest brands. Cynthia is a passionate leader who contributes to the industry through round tables, speaking engagements, industry publications, and her work as a CMA council member.

With over two decades of experience in marketing and advertising, Leanne is an influential leader who embraces change. As President of MAGNA, IPG Mediabrands’ intelligence arm, Leanne inspires a team that develops intelligence, investment and innovation strategies and negotiates strong partnerships for clients and agency teams to drive value and give them a competitive advantage in the market. Beyond the boardroom, Leanne sits on the CMDC’s Media Manifesto Task Force and is the executive leader of IPG Mediabrands’ Black Employee Network, which supports Black employees and allies within the organization.

Yan is the Chief Financial Officer of IPG Mediabrands Canada and is responsible for all financial, accounting, legal, IT and general corporate matters. Since joining IPG Mediabrands in 2016, Yan has overseen all aspects of financial and commercial operations for Initiative Canada. Over the past 8 years, Yan’s deep financial acumen has supported Initiative through transformation and significant growth, and has been heavily involved with and supported successful contract and commercial negotiations. She is a trusted business partner, who brings a unique blend of strong communication skills and the ability to connect with people to her financial insights. Yan also sits on the Board of NABS as Treasurer and Head of the Audit Committee.

Melissa is our EVP, Talent, IPG Mediabrands Canada. She is responsible for driving our multi-dimensional talent strategy and delivering a compelling employee experience – fostering a high-performance culture and resulting in global-leading employee engagement. With over 18 years of experience defining and implementing HR solutions, Melissa and her team are committed to creating a thriving and supportive people culture that attracts, develops and celebrates the best and brightest minds in the industry for exactly who they are.