Tim Spengler

Tim Spengler is Worldwide Chief Executive Officer for MAGNA GLOBAL, part of the Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands unit, which manages and invests $36 billion in media on the behalf of its clients. MAGNA GLOBAL is responsible for leveraging relationships with global media companies to maximize the value delivered to Interpublic Group’s clients. MAGNA GLOBAL accomplishes this through negotiation strategy, media investment, access to content and new data sources that understand media value dynamics and how brands can best leverage them. Spengler has been a senior executive within the IPG network for nearly two decades holding positions of increased responsibility since 1993.

Prior to his position running MAGNA GLOBAL, Tim served as President, North America for Initiative, one of IPG’s three worldwide media networks. During his four-year tenure, he oversaw that agency’s transformation towards a performance led culture placing a strong emphasis on building analytics capabilities that create robust consumer insights directly aligned with a client’s business goals and objectives. Under Tim’s leadership Initiative North America consistently delivered strong financial performance as was named U.S. Media Agency of the Year in 2008 by both AdAge and Adweek Magazines. This success was drawn from the more than 30 new clients he helped secure including MillerCoors and Merck and their customized Interpublic Group offerings, as well as flagship accounts Hyundai & Kia Motors, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Hasbro, PETCO, and financial services giant USAA.

In addition to new business success, at his direction the agency has added significant capabilities in digital and analytics services through newly developed entities like PropheSEE the agency’s social media marketing unit. He also led the creation of Initiative’s Performance Analytics team, as well as the expansion of the agency’s Innovations unit. During his tenure, Initiative consistently received RECMA’s prestigious A-rating and continues to be recognized as one of the most innovative media companies in the world.


Prior to being named head of North America, Tim held positions of increasing responsibility at Initiative and most recently served as the agency’s Chief Activation Officer. His decision to re-align the firm’s buying departments into one consolidated activation unit has been a catalyst in the agency's growth.

Tim’s achievements have also been widely recognized in the industry as well. He currently sits on the Advisory Board for Mandalay Digital, and in 2012, he was named to the 4As Executive Committee. In 2008, he was named TV Week’s Media Executive of the Year and has also been named Advertising Age’s Media Maven and an Adweek Media All-Star. He began his career with NW Ayer in the national broadcast department in 1986.

Tim received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri. He makes his home in suburban Connecticut with his wife and three small children.