CMI Media Group Hires Michele Sirkin and Selamawit Gilagaber to Executive Team

WPP's CMI Media Group hires two veterans to bolster data-driven growth

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    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>&lt;link type=&quot;text/css&quot; rel=&quot;stylesheet&quot; href=&quot;https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css&quot;&gt;&lt;/li...</p>
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    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>CMI Media Group, WPP&#039;s healthcare-focused agency, announced the return of Michele Sirkin and Selamawit Gilagaber from Omnicom to lead operations and analytics. Sirkin will oversee cross-functional process optimization and AI-enabled workflows, while Gilagaber will drive data science and insights. The move signals a strategic push to grow healthcare capabilities and could boost client outcomes and WPP&#039;s health-media momentum.</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>CMI Media Group, a WPP unit, hires Sirkin and Gilagaber. Return from Omnicom.</li><li>Sirkin named Chief Media Operations Officer; will drive process optimization.</li><li>Gilagaber named EVP, Insights and Intelligence; leads data-driven strategies.</li><li>Return of Omnicom veterans signals growth investment and analytics focus.</li><li>CMI emphasizes centralized hub, proprietary data, and global-to-local execution.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>CMI Media Group (CMI)</strong>: WPP healthcare-focused media agency; leadership hires signal growth.</li><li><strong>WPP (WPP)</strong>: Parent company benefiting from expanded healthcare capabilities.</li><li><strong>Omnicom Group (OMC)</strong>: Former employer of Sirkin and Gilagaber; potential competitive dynamics.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Category: Corporate Developments. Fits as leadership changes within a WPP unit signaling strategic shifts and potential earnings impact.</p>
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  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Leadership hires may drive higher new client wins for CMI.</li><li>Margin uplift possible if operations and analytics efficiency improve.</li><li>Omnicom veteran return could intensify healthcare marketing competition.</li><li>Near-term impact on WPP stock depends on broader group earnings clarity.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Date of release: June 9, 2026.</li><li>CMI Media Group is a WPP company.</li><li>Sirkin previously Chief Media Operations Officer at Initiative (Omnicom).</li><li>Gilagaber previously EVP, Insights and Intelligence at SOLVE(D) (Omnicom).</li><li>CMI offers a centralized hub model and data-driven audience targeting.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Bullish over 6–12 months as CMI expands capabilities and reinforces healthcare leadership.</p>
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  <header>
    <h1>CMI Media Group Hires Michele Sirkin and Selamawit Gilagaber to Executive Team</h1>
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  <section aria-labelledby="opening">
    <h2 id="opening">Overview: Strategic Hires bolster CMI Media Group’s Growth</h2>
    <p><strong>PHILADELPHIA</strong>, <strong>June&nbsp;&nbsp;09, 2026</strong> (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Strategic media healthcare agency CMI Media Group, a <strong>WPP</strong> company (<strong>NYSE: WPP</strong>), announced today it has appointed industry veterans Michele Sirkin and Selamawit Gilagaber to their executive team, effective immediately. Both Sirkin and Gilagaber are returning to the agency during a period of rapid growth, reinforcing the agency's commitment to attracting and retaining top-tier talent to drive client success. Their extensive experience in DTC and HCP life sciences marketing further cements CMI Media Group's leadership in delivering audiences to the world's most important and impactful clients.</p>
    <ul>
      <li><strong>Michele Sirkin</strong> will be returning from Omnicom's Initiative as the <strong>Chief Media Operations Officer</strong>, where she will oversee CMI Media Group's cross department process optimization and resource management. She will lead a team focused on delivering operational excellence while driving the future of how CMI operates in a world where AI and humans collaborate.</li>
      <li><strong>Selamawit Gilagaber</strong> will be returning from Omnicom's SOLVE(D) as the <strong>Executive Vice President, Insights and Intelligence</strong>, where she will lead data-driven insights across CMI Media Group's media ecosystem. She will head an elite team of data scientists and analysts to transform raw data into actionable strategies that optimize client media performance.</li>
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    <h2 id="quote">Leadership Commentary</h2>
    <p>"<em>Welcoming back leaders of Michele and Selamawit's caliber is massive win for both our agency and our clients,</em>" says Justin Freid, <strong>Chief Media &amp; Innovation Officer</strong>, CMI Media Group. "<em>They bring an incredible mix of institutional knowledge and outside-in expertise. Michele will ensure our operational roadmap is seamless, scalable and future-proof, while Selamawit will lead our elite teams in translating raw data into high-performance media strategies. Together, they will keep CMI Media Group at the forefront of analytics innovation and drive unmatched results for the brands we serve.</em>"</p>
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  <section aria-labelledby="services">
    <h2 id="services">Strategic Capabilities and Client Impact</h2>
    <p>CMI Media Group's differentiating service offerings include a centralized global hub model, proprietary consumer and HCP data, channel-agnostic precision targeting and seamless global-to-local execution. For clients, these capabilities translate directly into data-driven strategy and precise audience delivery.</p>
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  <section aria-labelledby="about">
    <h2 id="about">About CMI Media Group</h2>
    <p>CMI Media Group, a <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=6XrUcAEevEMoaNZXmG1NNomgelbxmLpWPirTAB56U5hU9HbTJUYnHbuvNdxnXT1t2uTBrTm-1nFfZmm2GTkISA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>WPP</strong> company</a>, is a global, full-service media agency focused solely on health, wellness, and pharmaceutical marketing. CMI Media Group's core offerings include <strong>Audience Strategy, Planning, Development, and Insights</strong>; <strong>Data and Analytics</strong>; <strong>Buying and Investment</strong>; and <strong>Direct Response and Customer Experience</strong>. As the leading media resource for the world's top healthcare companies, CMI Media Group brings together leading technology, data, and talent to deliver seamless capabilities for clients. CMI Media Group has been recognized as a leader in inclusivity, talent retention and employee development as well as one of the industry's best places to work. To apply for a position within our teams visit <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0apnPuGt1Mw0KaK4a7FiFx7zZtN1ZS0Qas7Yv2Ip4L9_S63moQu5M83pNS6nsXg3FSjEq5_lfBHVYs1W0IyVJpKPm_WXG29JGyzW5hwjn3yf58f6-LaldVCiYpHitLNh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://cmimediagroup.com/careers</a>.</p>
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  <section aria-labelledby="contact">
    <h2 id="contact">Contact</h2>
    <p>Carly Kuper<br>610-731-5409<br><a href="mailto:ckuper@cmimediagroup.com">ckuper@cmimediagroup.com</a></p>
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  <section aria-labelledby="media">
    <p>A photo accompanying this announcement is available at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/133205ce-0dcc-4f34-a463-c46cc9f82018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/133205ce-0dcc-4f34-a463-c46cc9f82018</a></p>
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CMI Media Group, WPP's healthcare-focused agency, announced the return of Michele Sirkin and Selamawit Gilagaber from Omnicom to lead operations and analytics. Sirkin will oversee cross-functional process optimization and AI-enabled workflows, while Gilagaber will drive data science and insights. The move signals a strategic push to grow healthcare capabilities and could boost client outcomes and WPP's health-media momentum.

CMI Media Group Hires Michele Sirkin and Selamawit Gilagaber to Executive Team

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

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