Horizon Media Holdings Appoints Tech Visionary and Industry Powerhouse Bob Lord as Its First President

Company Overview - Horizon Media Holdings is the parent company of Horizon Media, the largest independent media agency globally and the largest in the US [6] - The company operates multiple affiliate agencies including Horizon Next (full-service marketing), Night Market (commerce), One Horizon (full-service advertising), HS&E (sports and experiential), Blue Hour Studios (social agency), First Tube (moments marketing), 305 (multicultural), and Green Thread (B2B marketing) [2][6] - Horizon Media Holdings focuses on enterprise-level innovation, collaboration across its portfolio, and exploring new growth opportunities and technology solutions to help clients navigate marketing challenges [6] Leadership and Strategy - Bob Lord has been appointed as President of Horizon Media Holdings, a newly created role reporting directly to CEO Bill Koenigsberg [1] - Lord brings over three decades of experience at the intersection of marketing, media, and technology, with a strong track record in digital transformation and innovation [1][3] - As President, Lord will oversee the development and alignment of the company's diversified businesses, integrating advanced technologies, data accessibility, and innovative solutions to maintain Horizon's leadership in the evolving marketing landscape [2] - Lord will also lead the company's international strategy [2] Leadership Background - Bob Lord has a distinguished career in enterprise transformation and innovation, including roles as IBM's first Chief Digital Officer, President of AOL, and Global CEO of Razorfish [3] - At IBM, Lord infused AI across applications, revolutionized go-to-market strategies, and led the sale of The Weather Company to a private equity partner [3] - As President of AOL, Lord developed an industry-leading programmatic media platform, transforming the digital advertising landscape [3] - Lord currently serves on the boards of Integral Ad Science (NASDAQ: IAS) and Finance of America (NYSE: FOA), as well as private companies Delve and Certified Collectibles Group (CCG) [4] Vision and Future Direction - Lord aims to modernize technology tool sets with AI and increase transparency into consumer data to maximize ROAS and deliver greater value for brands and customers [4] - Horizon Media Holdings plans to utilize Large Language Models (LLMs) and cutting-edge data tools to create an integrated open marketing platform and ecosystem for clients and partners [5] - The company seeks to explore new opportunities and develop bold solutions driven by real-time data insights [5] Industry Recognition - Bob Lord has been named one of CRN's 50 "Most Influential" Channel Chiefs and one of Adweek's Top 50 Media, Marketing, and Tech Executives [5] - Lord co-authored the book "CONVERGE: Transforming Business at the Intersection of Marketing and Technology" [5]