Following a degree in Business and Marketing, Steve started his
career in media sales, moving to the agency world in 1982 to join
Bates Dorland. He then joined McCormicks (later acquired by
Publicis) to head up the buying group on Renault. After a year, he
returned to Bates Dorland as media group manager.
With the 1988 inception of Zenith Media in the UK, Steve was
appointed director of TV buying, overseeing the largest TV group of
its kind in Europe. He was made deputy managing director in 1992
and managing director in 1993.
Steve moved to the US to be part of the management team behind the
launch of Zenith Media in the US. When Zenith USA began operating
in February 1995, he was made general manager with principal
responsibility for media operations, the management of key clients
and the development of new business. In 1996, he was promoted to
chief operating officer of the US business.
Steve became chief executive, Zenith Media Europe, Middle East and
Africa, in August 1997. Following the creation of ZenithOptimedia
in October 2001, he was appointed chief executive of
ZenithOptimedia EMEA and subsequently worldwide chief executive in
March 2004.
The ZenithOptimedia Group is owned by Publicis Groupe SA and has
more than 5,525 employees across 218 offices in 72 countries.