George Ingram
Memphis,USA
Summary
I am a leader in the field of Performance Media and Digital Advertising, with 12+ years of experience in the ad technology space. Over the course of my career, I have developed a passion for working with people, and creating efficient processes to achieve results. Through my expertise in paid media, I have built teams, developed expertise, and helped clients achieve their marketing goals and drive business growth.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Director(VP) Media Operations
VML
, USA
01.2025 - Current
- I head up and lead Media Operations for the North American region of VML Media, ensuring seamless execution and operational excellence across our media initiatives (Traditional, Brand, and Performance Media).
- My focus is on building scalable processes, optimizing workflows, and driving efficiency in ad operations to support performance-driven campaigns.
- Key Responsibilities: Designing, implementing, and maintaining media operations processes to enhance efficiency and scalability across teams in North America.
- Leading VML AdOps department, ensuring best practices, compliance, and seamless integration across all buying platforms.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate technology, data, and automation into media operations.
- Integrating financial systems with media buying platforms to ensure efficiencies from planning to buying to billing.
- Bringing together pre-merger/legacy teams from large operating agencies and developing methods to operate as a single team.
- Consulting with teams on methods to improve effectiveness and efficiencies for client accounts.
Vice President of Performance Media
VML
, USA
06.2023 - 12.2024
- As VP of Media, I led a Performance Media team of advertising specialists focusing on objective-based media approaches for both brand efforts and lower funnel conversion.
- I ensured our media offering adhered to strategic and operational excellence to maximize client performance.
- I led a department of 45+ Media Specialists consisting of directors, associate directors, mid and senior planners/buyers and managers across 3 areas: Capability and Practice development, Coaching, training, up-skilling for strategic and technical growth Across Paid Media efforts, Process development and deployment.
- Ensuring the team adheres to operations, protocols and processes, Resourcing and department profitability.
- Managing the department's book of business to operate under healthy margins while delivering quality work to clients across Digital and Traditional Media channels.
- Structuring roles within department to create efficiencies, scalability and growth, Client and account performance.
- Ensuring there are adequate leaders and specialists in place to meet client needs and goals across media planning, buying, management and optimization.
- Ensuring optimization roadmaps are created for teams to frequently optimize client media for performance.
Director of Paid Media
Wunderman Thompson
, USA
01.2020 - 05.2023
- As Director I was responsible for overseeing and growing the Paid Media Department of the Performance Marketing arm.
- During my 3-year tenure as department director, I navigated the team through the pandemic and achieved the following milestones: Orchestrated team growth from 12 Media specialists to 35+ proficient media buyers/planners.
- Grew media billings from $8MM annually to exceeding $105MM.
- Tripled the number of client accounts within this period.
- My responsibilities encompassed: Implementing adaptable media practices across industries (eCommerce, B2B, Health Care, Travel etc), Developing a cohesive media team operating models, streamlining processes, workflows, Participating and Leading New Business and RFPs, Directing and mentoring associate directors, channel leads, and affiliated teams, Cultivating relationships with clients, partners, and agency collaborators, Seamlessly integrating paid media with cross-functional teams like SEO, Development, Reporting, and Strategy, Resource management: strategically planning and allocating paid media resources based on revenue projections.
Associate Media Director
Wunderman Thompson
, USA
10.2018 - 12.2019
- In my role I led a team of media strategists and campaign managers to plan, buy, and optimize paid media across paid search, social, programmatic display, and CTV for brands like Fresenius, Discover Bank, and TSA PreCheck.
- I also actively participated in new RFP and pitches to acquire new business for the agency.
Digital Media Account Lead
Wunderman Thompson
, South Africa
01.2017 - 09.2018
- Led paid media teams to maximize ROAS through strategy, execution, and optimization for national and international clients.
- Served as the main point of contact for Microsoft, Planet Fitness, and Builders (Massmart).
Digital Media Strategist
Aqua Agency
, South Africa
09.2015 - 12.2016
- As a digital media strategist, I worked with leading companies such as Standard Bank and MassBuild (Member of the MassMart Group).
- My duties included media planning and buying, bid automation, identifying digital trends, scheduling creative roll-outs, conducting keyword research, ad copy writing, and providing regular reporting.
- I also implemented various media and analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Adobe Media Optimizer, and Similar Web to optimize digital marketing performance.
Digital Campaign Manager
Aqua Agency
, South Africa
07.2014 - 09.2015
- In this role, I worked with Africa's largest retail bank, focusing on Google Search Campaigns, reporting through Google and Adobe Analytics, Landing Page Optimization, and Ad Copy Writing to improve the bank's campaign performance.
Digital Marketing Manager
Dot Slash Digital
, South Africa
01.2014 - 06.2014
- Managed digital marketing strategies including Google Search Campaigns, Google Analytics reporting, Landing Page Optimization, SEO & SEM, Backlink Building, and On-Page Copy Optimization to improve website visibility, increase conversion rates, and drive traffic.
Education
B.Com - Marketing Management
University of Pretoria
01.2013
Skills
- Presentation
- Leadership
- Process development
- Department & Resource management
- Media planning
- Media buying
- Performance optimization
- Generative AI Prompt Engineering
- A/B Testing
- AI Software on demand
- Paid Search
- Paid Social
- Programmatic Media
- Connected TV
- Dynamic Content Optimization
- Reporting & Analytics
- Media operations
- Advertising technologies
Accomplishments
- Recognized as one of 100 high performance employees in HiP - High Potential Employee Program.
- Identified globally as future leaders of the organization in Global Ambition Leadership Alumni.
- Participated in Thought Leadership Talks alongside Google and Facebook.
- Nominated to represent Wunderman at top tier agency events in Facebook Ambassador Program.
Tools And Channels
- Paid Search (Google Ads, Bing Ads, SA360)
- Paid Social (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn)
- Programmatic Media (The Trade Desk, DV360, StackAdapt, Amazon DSP)
- Connected TV (Hulu, Roku, Amazon, Disney+, Netflix)
Timeline
Managing Director(VP) Media Operations
VML
01.2025 - Current
Vice President of Performance Media
VML
06.2023 - 12.2024
Director of Paid Media
Wunderman Thompson
01.2020 - 05.2023
Associate Media Director
Wunderman Thompson
10.2018 - 12.2019
Digital Media Account Lead
Wunderman Thompson
01.2017 - 09.2018
Digital Media Strategist
Aqua Agency
09.2015 - 12.2016
Digital Campaign Manager
Aqua Agency
07.2014 - 09.2015
Digital Marketing Manager
Dot Slash Digital
01.2014 - 06.2014
B.Com - Marketing Management
University of Pretoria