Search Optics Accelerates Domestic Growth, Appoints Jim Menard As President of Search Optics U.S.
San Diego,CA (PRWEB) September 25, 2015 -- Search Optics®, a leading global digital marketing provider with expertise in the automotive industry, today announced the hiring a top-level executive, industry veteran Jim Menard, who will be instrumental to the company’s domestic strategy. As president of Search Optics U.S., a newly-created subsidiary of Search Optics, Menard will lead Search Optics’ tactical growth and strategy in the states, connecting dealers with best-in-class products and services that create sales opportunities.
Additionally, Search Optics has brought in three key new hires, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and industry experience: Laura Marion, Search Optics’ global chief financial officer (CFO), Patricia Galea, executive vice president for group accounts, and Lori Good, regional sales director. Each of these new hires bolsters Search Optics’ capabilities, expertise and knowledgebase, and are key to Search Optics’ continued growth in the U.S. and across the globe.
“Search Optics pursues the highest quality talent as part of our promise to back best-in-class technology with real people who are experts in their respective fields,” said David Ponn, CEO of Search Optics Global. “With Jim, Laura, Patricia and Lori as part of Search Optics’ expansive growth efforts, we are positioned both domestically and globally for success in the second half of 2015.”
About Jim Menard, president, Search Optics U.S.
Menard comes to Search Optics from the Digital Media Division of Autotrader.com where he was quickly promoted from divisional vice president to vice president of dealer sales. As vice president, he managed all aspects of the sales organization, including more than 800 professional sales consultants across the U.S., 22,000 active customers and revenues of $1B annually. Prior to his position at Autotrader.com, Menard was the vice president and general manager of VAuto’s SaaS Software Division, overseeing operations of a business unit with several U.S. locations.
About Laura Marion, chief executive officer, Search Optics Global
Marion is joining Search Optics as the new global CFO of Search Optics and will oversee the finances of all regions including the U.S., Latin America, Canada and Australia. After starting her career in public accounting with Arthur Anderson, Marion worked in the corporate headquarters of a $30B retail company, then was recruited to Delphi where she worked on a $1B acquisition and lead a team of more than 50 staff. Later, Marion worked with smaller companies and ambitious startups, and Global Fortune 500 companies, gaining tax and banking experience. She most recently served as CFO at Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Aptera Motors and Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corporation.
Marion will work to build a solid infrastructure to support continued, planned growth, assuming all financial responsibilities for Search Optics and all of its subsidiaries.
About Patricia Galea, executive vice president, Search Optics Global
A true digital marketing veteran, Galea began her career in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the mid-1990s during the first “dot-com” wave, helping to transform the way brands connect and interact with their audiences. Through the mid-2000s, she led digital campaigns for some of the world’s top brands: Honda, Acura, Nestle, Lexus, Disney at boutique and global agencies including Suissa Miller, AGENCY.COM, RPA, and Saatchi/Team One. Later, she joined her client, Disney, and led the initiative to bring iconic Disney properties into the social media age in the U.S. and around the world. After Disney, Galea returned to her agency roots where she led the digital practice of Edelman LA and established a successful Entertainment sector practice. She brought clients across TV, film, gaming, launching a new paid media practice, doubling revenue in two years. Clients included Starz, Summit Entertainment, Activision, Volkswagen, Disney, Nestlé, Mattel and Qualcomm.
Galea will be working to shape and grow Search Optics business globally, enhancing the company’s growth by strengthening its “people first” approach, providing strategic counsel to the company’s key accounts.
About Lori Good, regional sales director, Search Optics, U.S.
Good comes from Young & Rubicam where she managed T2 Advertising for Land Rover West Region. During her time at Y&R, Good was responsible for managing all facets of advertising for regional ad groups in the West. With a laser focus on success, she was responsible for educating and guiding her dealers to make marketing decisions that garnered results. In the course of four years, she watched overall budgets shift out of traditional advertising and into digital. Prior to Y&R, Lori worked on the Suzuki automotive account at Dentsu and Siltanen & Partners on T1 Advertising for seven years.
About Search Optics
Search Optics is a digital marketing company that specializes in custom, integrated solutions with an emphasis on return on investment. The company uses an uncommon blend of leading edge technology and human interaction to turn virtual traffic into measurable results. Search Optics, which was founded in 1998, has corporate offices in San Diego, Detroit, Aliso Viejo, Toronto, Montreal, Sydney, Dublin, London, and field locations in major markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.searchoptics.com. You can follow Search Optics on Twitter, LinkedIn, G+ and Facebook.
Jacob Nahin, Ogilvy Public Relations, +1 310-280-2470, [email protected]
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