Matt Vandrau and Jeff Shifrin named co-CEOs of CSM

CSM Sport and Entertainment has announced a global reorganisation of its individual agencies under a single, unified brand presence – CSM.

CSM was formed, in 2011, from a collection of agencies with a depth of capabilities, expertise and experience in multiple disciplines that has grown to include 26 offices in 18 countries with over 800 people. The new CSM proposition will reorganise these agencies, through their capabilities, around three core business areas: Brands, Rights and Live.

The integration of the existing agency brands will be a phased process with the Essentially client services division, in the UK, and LeadDog, in the US, retaining their individual identities but both remain part of the CSM group.

Central to the reorganisation is the appointment of the new co-CEOs, Matt Vandrau, who has spent the past 10 years leading and growing CSM agency Essentially and Jeff Shifrin, who joins CSM with more than 30 years’ industry experience, most recently as president and global COO of Octagon.

Jeff Shifrin said: “The decision to reorganise our business makes absolute sense for our clients. By becoming a single brand, we are able to provide even greater value through access to the comprehensive range of capabilities, expertise and experience that sit within the group.”

Matt Vandrau commented: “The reality is that many of our clients are already working with multiple agencies within CSM, such is the diversity of our capabilities. So this reorganization is evolution rather than revolution. We have a single, clear and compelling proposition that will benefit clients immediately.”

Seb Coe, chairman of CSM concluded: “Throughout my career I’ve seen both the risks and benefits of change. We’ve considered both, in meticulous detail, and the result was indisputable. This is the right decision for the business, for our clients and for our people.”