• by Larissa Faw , April 15, 2016

Three Initiative executives are jumping ship to join Canvas Worldwide, the joint venture media agency formed last year by Horizon Media and Innocean Worldwide. 

The firm’s charter clients are the sibling automotive brands Hyundai and Kia, which migrated from Initiative to the new shop as its charter clients. Those brands spend about $700 million annually on ads in the U.S.

Amy Ginsberg leaves Initiative after seven years to become EVP, chief investment officer to help lead television, digital, print and local activation strategies; monetize client investments and develop strategic multiplatform media deals.

Ginsberg will be based out of Canvas' New York office.  At Initiative, she handled investment duties for a number of clients including Hyundai.

Mark Brown has been hired as EVP, chief strategy officer at Canvas Worldwide based out of the agency’s Los Angeles office. Brown will oversee all investment and strategy efforts for Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America business. He was managing director at Initiative where he led a team of 150 across business, strategy, analytics and investment units. 

Greg Johns joins Canvas Worldwide as EVP, chief digital officer to oversee all digital strategy across the agency's digital teams. He will be based out of the agency’s Los Angeles office. He formerly served as Intiative's SVP, senior director of digital strategy. 

The three executives join YS Seo on Canvas' senior leadership team. She is shifting from CEO of Innocean Worldwide Canada to become EVP/chief operating officer, Canvas Worldwide.

As second in command, Seo will oversee all on-going business operations and ensure that the agency’s business infrastructure runs efficiently as it grows beyond its two main offices in New York and Los Angeles, and regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas. She will split her time between New York and Los Angeles. 

These four executives will report to Paul Woolmington, the media veteran who was tapped as CEO of Canvas Worldwide in January.