Advertising Age today named Simon Dumenco its editorial director in charge of all editorial strategy and operations for its brands, including Ad Age, Creativity and Internet Week.
Mr. Dumenco, a longtime Ad Age columnist and editor at large, takes on the role as Associate Publisher Abbey Klaassen departs to join Dentsu Aegis Network as director-corporate development and strategy, Americas.
At Ad Age, Mr. Dumenco will work closely with the editors and leadership of each brand to enhance coverage, develop new products and events and grow its reach and influence. He will report to VP-Publisher Allison Arden.
"The industry we cover is in the midst of unprecedented change and Simon has been one of the most astute observers of and commenters on that transformation," said Rance Crain, editor-in-chief of Advertising Age. "While we'll certainly miss Abbey's great leadership, we are delighted to bring Simon's thinking to Advertising Age in a bigger, more ambitious fashion and look forward to what he will develop with the rest of the Ad Age team."
Ms. Arden added: "Abbey has brought smarts, leadership and enthusiasm to Ad Age and our industry, from leading the launch of Ad Age Digital -- to date still our biggest editorial franchise -- to her more recent role bridging our content and audience strategies. We're sad to see her go and have no doubt she'll bring important insight and perspective to her new role and company."
Ms. Klaassen joined Ad Age in January 2005 and was named editor in 2010 and associate publisher earlier this year. At Dentsu Aegis Network she'll be responsible for driving the development strategy of the organization and its operating model across the Americas, helping to shape the network's acquisition strategy and core capabilities and identifying new strategic opportunities. Dentsu Aegis, the name for Dentsu's operations outside Japan, includes Carat, 360i, iProspect, Isobar, McGarryBowen, Posterscope, Vizeum and namesake shop Dentsu.
"Having been part of the industry covering the industry for the past 10 years, I've had an up-close view of the rapid change it's undergoing. Now I'm looking forward to putting that knowledge to work within an agency network that I think has a clear vision and lots of momentum," Ms. Klaassen said. "At the same time, I cannot wait to see how Ad Age continues to evolve. It's an incredible brand and journalistic force, and I leave knowing it's in really good hands."