Linas Paulius

• Client Leadership: State Farm
• Built and Led a high-performing team of 18 members, including four direct reports, achieving record client satisfaction scores within the agency's portfolio
• Acted as the primary liaison between the agency and key client stakeholders, fostering strong relationships with State Farm's Marketing & Retail leadership
• Spearheaded the development and execution of State Farm's annual communication and media strategy, resulting in a significant increase in investment from $550 million to over $800 million
• Recognized for innovative media strategies that contributed to State Farm winning the Ad Age 2020 Marketer of the Year award
• Implemented and tracked Integrated Marketing Communication strategies to optimize efficiency and return on investment for client campaigns
• Actively managed and held accountability for tracking client's media goals and KPIs across all channels, proactively identifying and seizing opportunities for optimization and precision measurement
• Fostered team growth and development, maintaining top talent retention rates within the agency
• Led internal Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, driving increased multicultural and LGBTQ+ investment and improved diverse audience sentiment scores
• Spearheaded financial management, ensuring consistent client and agency financial success
• Leveraged key partnerships with platforms and publishers to drive integrated communications, embracing emerging trends such as metaverse engagements, influencer collaborations, voice search optimization, sonic branding, gaming, eSports and comprehensive video marketing—from Instagram to YouTube. Applied data-driven targeting and personalization techniques to align with evolving market demands effectively
• Developed training and education on media/marketing topics in collaboration with agency partners

• Client Leadership: BIC (Shavers & Stationery), Vitamix, Brightline, Grainger & RightTurn
• As the account lead, orchestrated the planning and activation strategies for five critical accounts, spearheading a significant 40% upswing in overall advertising revenue
• Developed and motivated CK media talent, achieving zero turnover over two years
• Played a key role in new business development, contributing to eight pitches and securing five wins within 24 months
• Accountable for driving cross-functional collaboration and integration across agency departments and partners, fostering a culture of unity and efficiency that streamlined communications, improved project coordination, and ensured timely delivery of projects

• Client Leadership: General Motors USA
• Directed the media planning strategies and managed investments exceeding $500 million for General Motors USA, encompassing the Buick and GMC brands along with 10 additional GM Non-Divisional entities, including AC Delco, GM Credit Card, GM Fleet, Certified Service, CPO, OnStar, GM Corporate
• Played a pivotal role as part of the executive leadership team in establishing and running the Carat Detroit office
• Acted as the primary liaison between the agency and the client, maintaining strong relationships with Marketing & Retail VP's, Ad Directors, and Brand/Digital Managers
• Managed a diverse team of 40 professionals across various disciplines, including strategic planning, consumer insights, tactical offline and online planning, and financial forecasting for both Brand and Retail
• Developed and implemented an agency communication planning process, translating brand marketing objectives into concise and effective media strategies
• Cultivated and nurtured relationships within the media community, forging strategic partnerships and fostering higher-level connections to exchange ideas and insights.

• Client Leadership: Land Rover USA
• Directed all media planning strategies and investments for Land Rover USA across Tier I, II, CPO, Online, and Offline channels, managing an annual budget of $85 million
• Fostered a robust agency-client relationship, collaborating closely with the Land Rover US and Global Marketing Teams, LR Regional Managers, Market Managers, and 93 Retailer Ad Groups to ensure the delivery of best-in-class media strategies and insights
• Led global coordination for Land Rover, overseeing alignment and quality of media strategy across major markets, including the UK, Canada, Germany, Russia, and China, and ensuring flawless execution of media deliverables
• Held the role of client lead, managing the overall scope of work and maintaining a delicate balance between client and agency needs
• Represented team and client's interests effectively with senior management within the company
• Guided planning teams in the development of innovative, objective-driven, and industry-leading multi-channel opportunities
• Provided in-depth marketplace and competitive updates to national media clients and dealer teams, contributing to strategic decision-making

• Managed online, mobile, and ad network sales targeting the Hispanic market for UIM's Midwest region, covering Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
• Fostered and nurtured strong client-direct and agency relationships with key accounts, including McDonald's, State Farm, Kraft, Kellogg, General Motors, Miller Brewing, Ford, H&R Block, Alberto Culver, ConAgra, Kmart/Sears, Kimberly Clark, and Abbott.
• Educated marketers on Univision's robust capabilities and the significant value of the US Hispanic marketplace, including demographics, growth trends, cultural distinctions, and media consumption habits.
• Developed tailored digital Hispanic sales solutions aligned with client marketing objectives and needs.
• Served as a dynamic leader within the UIM team, collaborating closely with the Univision Network TV, Radio, and Spot sales teams to create comprehensive, multichannel sales opportunities.

• Led magazine and online advertising sales and spearheaded brand initiatives for Men's Health across a $5 million territory encompassing Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
• Specialized in sales within the domestic automotive sector, focusing on key players such as General Motors Corporation, Chrysler, LLC, and Ford Motor Company.
• Successfully secured Dodge as the premier sponsor for the Men's Health Urbanathlon event, resulting in a substantial $1.2 million multi-platform commitment spanning digital, print, CRM, PR, events, and research.

• Client Leadership: ConAgra Foods
• Oversaw comprehensive media operations for Mediacom's ConAgra account.
• Held direct accountability for crafting and executing media strategies, tactical planning, and communication platform development for ConAgra's Grocery and Snack Division.
• Served as the primary agency liaison for over 10 brand teams and their respective partner agencies, fostering strong client relationships.
• Led, managed, and mentored a team of 10 professionals, promoting growth and excellence within the team.
• Spearheaded the integration of the digital planning process into the agency's operational structure, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
• Played a pivotal role in the successful launch and establishment of the Mediacom Chicago office.

Associate Director, Saturn Car Division

• Led and managed a dynamic 7-member strategic media planning team.
• Guided the media team through a pivotal year, overseeing Saturn's brand revitalization efforts with the launch of four new car models.
• Implemented innovative multi-media strategies to highlight Saturn's transformation, encompassing Broadcast, Print, Outdoor, Radio, and Digital channels (including Lifestyle, In-market, VOD, and Broadband).
• Collaborated with Supervisors and Planners to explore and execute fusion-marketing opportunities (FBP) to maximize campaign effectiveness.
• Inspired and mentored Supervisors and Planners, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity across all projects.
• Cultivated strong partnerships with external collaborators (AOR, Carlson, R*Works), facilitating improved communication, problem-solving, and streamlined processes in a professional manner.
• Led the charge in managing administrative tasks, special projects, and overall team cohesion.

Associate Director, SAAB Car

• Oversaw all National and Local Market Retail media operations for SAAB Car USA.
• Successfully managed the transition of the media account from Lowe NY to GM Planworks, ensuring a seamless shift.
• Led a high-performing team in the development and execution of SAAB's innovative 2005/2006 media plans, including strategic launches for the SAAB 9-7x SUV, 9-3 Sport Combi, and the 9-5 MCE.
• Formulated and presented data-driven, long-term and short-term media strategies for SAAB, encompassing Broadcast, Print, Digital, Outdoor, and Alternative channels.
• Received accolades from senior management for fostering a positive and engaging work environment that boosted team morale.

Media Supervisor/MPG, HUMMER Division

• Directed the development and execution of HUMMER's 2004/2005 "Market Planning Group" media plans, with a strategic focus on the West and North Central regions.
• Led the planning and implementation of media launch strategies for HUMMER's innovative H2 SUT and H3 models.
• Oversaw a proficient 7-member planning team, providing guidance and leadership to four direct reports, ensuring seamless project coordination and successful outcomes.

Media Supervisor/National, Cadillac Division

• Oversaw comprehensive media operations, including decision-making and activity approvals, for the Cadillac Division, managing a media budget exceeding $100 million.
• Directly supervised a team of four planners, ensuring seamless project execution and coordination.
• Steered the successful launch of seven new Cadillac brands, with full ownership of their media launch strategies encompassing Print, Broadcast, Outdoor, and Alternative channels.
• Led a diverse team responsible for integrating a targeted Diversity strategy, effectively reaching the Hispanic, African American, Asian, and LGBTQ+ markets, ensuring Cadillac's presence in these segments.

Sr. Media Associate/Strategic Planner, Nintendo of America

• Oversaw the strategic planning of Nintendo's comprehensive media strategies, including Print, Network, Radio, and OOH channels.
• Implemented innovative "Passion Group" planning techniques to develop and execute Print plans for 12 software and 2 hardware launches, ensuring maximum market impact.
• Planned and executed the highly successful "Game Boy Advance" hardware launch, achieving sales of half a million units within its first week, securing its position as the best-selling game system in American history.

Media Associate/Strategic Planner, The Minute Maid Company

• Led the end-to-end development and execution of marketing and media plans, aligning them with brand marketing principles for maximum impact.
• Managed and meticulously tracked Minute Maid's extensive media budgets, including National TV, Spot TV, Radio, and Print, ensuring financial accountability for budgets exceeding $35 million on a monthly basis.

Media Associate/Strategic Planner, Coca-Cola Global

• Facilitated seamless international information exchange and maintained constant communication with global offices to optimize global resources for multinational clients

Media Business Coordinator, Miller Brewing Company

• Managed daily buying operations for Miller Brewing Company across 4 U.S. regions, ensuring effective media placement and budget optimization.
• Led negotiations and executed radio advertising campaigns to maximize brand exposure and reach target audiences.