Business News

Imagination Hires Publishing, Marketing Veteran as COO

Monday 08. September 2008 - An Intense Focus on Digital Media and a Shift to Agency Business Model Prompt a Re-Organization and a New C-Level Position

Imagination has hired Andrew Schultz for the position of chief operating officer. Schultz is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of publishing, marketing and custom media experience.
Imagination’s metamorphosis from custom publisher to custom media provider to relationship-marketing agency was the catalyst for the hiring of its first-ever COO.
“A client’s overall marketing strategy plays a key role in the development of custom content,” said Jim Meyers, president and CEO of Imagination. “Imagination consults with most of our clients on their business objectives and marketing strategy, and Andy’s deep publishing and marketing experience will help to cement our reputation as the leading relationship marketer.”
Schultz previously managed custom publishing and integrated marketing programs at Meredith Corporation, including programs with Procter & Gamble, Sherwin Williams, United Airlines, Dodge, Habitat for Humanity, and Unilever. He also was vice president of business development at Money magazine at AOL Time Warner in New York, where he launched Money for Women and New Family Finances, as well as developed custom content programs for LaSalle Bank, Hewitt Associates, MassMutual, and Navy Federal Credit Union.
Schultz also was general manager of Hanley Wood’s plans group, overseeing its use of print and three major websites to market pre-drawn residential architectural plans to consumers and builders. Most recently, Schultz headed up the re-launch of a custom book publishing initiative at the Random House Division of Bertelsmann.
Imagination Operations
At Imagination, Schultz will oversee day-to-day operations, including business development, technology, marketing, production and human resources. He is charged with the continued implementation of a business model that reflects the agency’s focus on printed media, and its intense focus on the production and distribution of digital media as part of clients’ overall strategic communications plans.
“I’ve been familiar with Imagination and its excellent work for B2B and association clients for more than 10 years,” Schultz said. “Imagination’s reputation in the custom media industry preceded my conversations with Jim Meyers about the COO position, and I’m confident I’ll make a powerful contribution to this agency as it expands its reach and offerings.”
Laura Chavoen, Imagination’s senior vice president of strategy, said Schultz’s experience with the integration of digital and print media is a huge plus for Imagination, where rapidly growing digital revenue accounts for 40% of overall revenue.
“Andy is an excellent addition to our management team,” Chavoen says. “His background brings gravitas to the COO position, and his leadership and experience in all facets of the creation and delivery of custom media brings a fresh perspective to the organizational structure. As digital media becomes a larger part of our business, Andy’s past experience will play an important role in Imagination’s future.”
“Custom content, delivered in exactly the right way, is the most influential and engaging part of any communications plan,” Schultz says. “I’m excited to be at a company that understands the power of content and is a proponent of the strategic value of custom media.”