Linus Karlsson’s Ming Utility and Entertainment Group – which he describes as the “world’s smallest holding company” – has appointed Jeff Geisler as its new president.
Geisler (left) was global CMO for Saatchi & Saatchi. He also worked as CMO for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, handling music and sports properties. Prior to that, he spent seven years as head of business leadership at McCann New York (Karlsson’s former home) where he ran clients including Verizon, Mastercard, General Mills and Unilever.
New York based Ming, whose companies include Dynasty Studios, Geisel Productions and The Store, focuses on design, technology and entertainment. Its clients include IKEA, Polaroid eyewear and BMW Films. Ming was founded by chairman and CCO Karlsson and CEO Brian DiLorenzo in 2014. Karlsson, former CCO of McCann in New York and London, remains CCO of McCann’s Commonwealth agency which handles General Motors.
Karlsson says: “As we’re steering even more deliberately towards design, music and film experiences by brands and less ad-making stuff, Jeff with his unique experience is great fit to run the company…he understands creative, strategy, media, technology, design and how to operate, innovate and be successful in this space.”
Geisler says: “Ming has taken a refreshing approach to create new value for brands and their consumers through design and entertainment, and that’s really exciting to me. I’m thrilled with this opportunity to do something genuinely different.”
