November 15, 2010. San Francisco / Chicago. SolutionSet, the fourth largest independent digital, data, direct and local marketing services company in the U.S., today announced Zain Raj has been elevated to the position of president and CEO, effective January 1, 2011. He succeeds Jeff Haggin, who becomes vice chairman of the company. In addition, Bob Gaito and Jack Sturn have been named to new positions within SolutionSet's data management group, becoming vice chairman and president respectively, effective immediately.
SolutionSet has grown its business in double digits this year, adding new accounts including Plow + Hearth and California State Lottery, among others. The company has also grown existing accounts and staff, adding 43 new positions since June 2010. In his new position, Raj will lead the agency's more than 400 employees across six offices nationwide, while enhancing SolutionSet's comprehensive integrated offering and services.
"SolutionSet is building tremendous momentum because we understand how to leverage data, digital direct and local marketing to drive customer transactions while building brand value," said Raj. "It is an exciting time to be making waves in the industry, and I look forward to continuing to work with Jeff, Bob, Jack and the SolutionSet team to drive our business forward and design integrated and effective solutions for today's marketers."
As vice chairman, Haggin will remain on SolutionSet's Board of Directors and will focus on business development, account support, mergers and acquisitions, and agency marketing. He founded Haggin Marketing, now SolutionSet, in 2001. As CEO, he oversaw the company's acquisitions of the Chicago Catalog Group, I-Centrix, Getmembers.com and SolutionSet, now the digital group and company namesake. This platform is the result of a strategy and integration plan that put SolutionSet on its trajectory to become the national business it is today. Haggin brought Raj on board earlier this year to further that mission and drive new business growth.
"I believe in Zain's vision, and our prospects for the future have never been brighter," said Haggin. "We have the integrated services platform, the experience, the ambition and the leadership to be even more successful. I'm proud to pass on the baton at this time and excited to continue to be a part of SolutionSet's future."
Prior to joining SolutionSet, Raj was CEO of Euro RSCG Discovery, the North American CRM, analytics and database marketing arm of Euro RSCG Worldwide, and he served as Global Practice Leader for retail brands across the Euro RSCG global network. In this capacity, he oversaw the integration and expansion of the Euro RSCG Discovery network, growing the agency's digital capabilities, client base and reach during the last three years.
Gaito & Sturn Become Vice Chairman & President of SolutionSet Data Management Group
As vice chairman of the Data Management Group, Gaito will be responsible for new business growth and driving innovation of the agency's integrated direct marketing services. Gaito previously served as president of the data group, which is based in Albany, N.Y., and was recently named among The Business Review's "Best Places to Work" in the region.
Sturn will take over as president of the data management group, overseeing day-to-day operations and bringing the value of data services to all of the agency's clients. With more than a decade at SolutionSet, Sturn most recently served as senior vice president of client services for the data management group.
"Bob and Jack both have proven track records at SolutionSet, and I am confident in their ability to lead innovation and growth in our data management group," said Raj. "With data as the cornerstone of our integrated offering and ongoing growth, Bob and Jack will have critical roles in bringing the most effective integrated targeted marketing solutions to all of our clients."
About the SolutionSet MediaWhiz Partnership
The SolutionSet MediaWhiz Partnership is a leading integrated performance marketing agency network that works with marketers to deliver measurable, tangible and accountable business results. It provides today's CMO with a comprehensive offering built around relationship marketing, digital solutions, local marketing, data management and media services, designed to drive profitable transactions in the marketplace. The SolutionSet MediaWhiz Partnership works with leading brands, including adidas, AT&T, American Express, AMD, Cisco, Dell, Discover, eBay, Gold's Gym, Nielsen, Office Depot and RadioShack. For more information, visit: www.solutionsetmediawhizpartnership.com.
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