ICOM, one of the world’s most geographically diverse global networks of independent marketing communication agencies, has elected three new members to its Board as the network embraces evolution as a strategic path for growth for itself and its member agencies.
Miguel Pereira, executive president at Darwin & Verne in Spain, where ICOM held its 2024 World Meeting, has been elected to the newly created board position of Tech & Innovation Director; Leon Dominitz, founder and managing partner of Brand Galaxy Group in Germany has been elected as Regional Director Europe; and Manabu Watanabe, a top director from ICOM’s Japanese member agency ADEX, has been elected Member-at-Large for Asia Pacific.
They join eight other board members in the pivotal role of assuring that ICOM remains at the forefront of the marketing communications industry empowering global collaboration by anticipating tomorrow’s business needs. Each new director brings unique and special skills to their new role to share with others.
“Technology and innovation continue to become increasingly essential to our industry. Clients everywhere in the world want and expect cutting edge technology and innovation to help drive growth for their companies and brands. It’s imperative we place these important disciplines at the heart of our organization,” said Bob Morrison, ICOM chairman and also chairman of Morrison, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Pereira lives and breathes technology at his own agency and has shown his commitment to AI and technology applied to marketing by leading his agency, Darwin & Verne, to launch a business unit specialized in this field, developing products, and offering consulting and training services. Additionally, he is an active member of the Spanish AI ecosystem. Pereira has also been leading the AI group at ICOM for the last few months. Dominitz, who is already participating in ICOM’s Strategic Planning Committee, is distinguished for his expertise in activating, interdisciplinary, cross-media communication. As head of a dynamic agency group, he orchestrates twelve different marketing disciplines with a commitment to excellence for well-known global and local brands in Germany. He is succeeding Christophe Levyfve, owner and CEO, becoming - Belgium & France, who resigned from the board after eight successful years and remains an ICOM member. Watanabe, who represents one of the three largest agencies in the ICOM network, has already been working closely with Alan Tang, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Olomana Loomis ISC, ICOM’s Asia-Pacific regional director. He succeeds Reet Ahluwalia from Arms Communication in India, who resigned from ICOM after he sold the majority of his agency.
Directors, which represent regions of the world and essential disciplines, are nominated by the current board and approved by the membership by annual ballot at the next annual World Meeting. They serve two-year terms and may be re-elected if they choose to run again.
ABOUT ICOM: ICOM is among the world’s largest and most geographically diverse networks of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies, with 70+ member agencies in 60-plus countries.
Media contacts:
Emma Keenan, ICOM President & CEO, [email protected] - +33 6 63 48 01 37
Nancy Giges, ICOM media relations director, [email protected] +1-914-683-5108
*Missing from the ICOM board photo: Karen Seamen, Strategic Planning Director.