IPGĀ NamesĀ AndyĀ PolanskyĀ ChairmanĀ andĀ CEOĀ ofĀ CMG;Ā GailĀ HeimannĀ PromotedĀ toĀ CEO,Ā WeberĀ ShandwickĀ
Interpublic Group announced that it has promoted Andy Polansky to Chairman and CEO of Constituency Management Group (CMG). Polansky, who has served as Weber Shandwickās CEO since 2012, also will become Executive Chairman of Weber Shandwick. Gail Heimann, who has served as Weber Shandwickās global president since 2013, assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer of Weber Shandwick. Both changes are effective immediately.

IPGās CMG operating portfolio includes IPGās specialty marketing firms across a variety of disciplines, including public relations, sports marketing, experiential marketing, brand consulting and digital and social media marketing. Global brands within CMG include our firm, Golin, Octagon, Jack Morton, DeVries Global, Current Global, Rogers & Cowan and FutureBrand, among others.
Polansky succeeds Frank Mergenthaler in the CMG role, who, as previously announced, is retiring at the end of the year as Interpublicās Chief Financial Officer. Under Polanskyās leadership, Weber Shandwick was on Ad Ageās Best Places to Work in 2019 and named PRWeekās Global Agency of the Year four years in a row (2015 to 2018) and The Holmes Reportās Global Agency of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Polansky started his career as a journalist, covering various beats, including municipal politics, business and sports.
āAndy and Gail have led the transformation of the industryās top PR firm in a new era of marketing communications. Together, they have built a global team that has driven the exceptional success weāve seen at Weber Shandwick. We are excited that both leaders will continue to steer the ongoing progress at CMG and Weber Shandwick,ā Roth concluded.
Heimann has been at the center of Weber Shandwickās successes in recent years, including numerous agency of the year accolades and creative awards for its client campaigns, most recently winning 25 Cannes Lions with client partners at the 2019 Cannes Festival of Creativity. PRWeek also named Heimann its āGlobal Agency Professional of the Yearā in 2019.
Polansky said, āGail has been the creative soul of our firm. Sheās a leading strategist, creative powerhouse and a stand-out in the industry who inspires risk-taking work that drives long-term results for clients. Her restless ambition, along with a fierce commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture, is a source of inspiration for our people and our clients.ā
āIn addition, as we move forward, we are fortunate that Jack Leslie will continue in his role as Weber Shandwick Chairman, as a key client advisor and a highly regarded thought leader for our firm at major industry, business and policy events around the world,ā Polansky added.