NEW YORK CITY, USA – Senior Charles Schwab executive Marlene Pelage is joining IPG Mediabrands, the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group, as Global Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Pelage is replacing Guy Beach, who is being promoted to the role of Global President at IPG Mediabrands. The two moves herald IPG Mediabrands’ sharpening focus on accelerating transformation efforts across global markets and strengthening innovation for client solutions.
Pelage, whose successful 15-year career at Charles Schwab was topped by being CFO at Charles Schwab Bank, is a native of Martinique and studied business in Paris. Her international career includes stints working in risk management and strategic development for Credit Agricole Indosuez in London and Hong Kong.
Beach’s steady leadership at IPG Mediabrands–spanning eight years altogether with two as Global CFO–was never more apparent than during the last year. He helped successfully steer the company through the challenges of the pandemic and burnished his reputation as a staunch advocate for clients. Beach’s early career includes key management positions throughout IPG Mediabrands, Initiative and UM.
“We are thrilled to promote Guy and bring Marlene into the network,” said Daryl Lee, Global CEO at Mediabrands. “As the world tentatively emerges from lockdown, the watchword of the year is transformation. Guy possesses the deep knowledge of our business and of our clients required to keep Mediabrands ahead of the curve when it comes to better ways of working globally. Marlene will bring a fresh perspective to our financial teams and systems and insights from an adjacent industry that will help us turbocharge how we demonstrate value to our clients.”
Pelage will manage the global IPG Mediabrands P&L, with global brand and regional CFOs and global controllers across the IPG Mediabrands network reporting into her as well as overseeing corporate financial planning and analysis functions.
“During her 15 years at Charles Schwab, Marlene worked across both financial and strategic functions, including as the Managing Director of Client Solutions, and leading the roll-out of new capabilities across international markets as global CFO of Charles Schwab Bank,” said Lee. “Marlene will bring a fresh perspective to our business from a dynamic adjacent industry while maintaining the strict commercial rigor and discipline with which we pride ourselves in Mediabrands.”
At Charles Schwab Bank, Pelage managed assets of $280 billion. Her career at the global financial institution included key roles in marketing, data and financial research and client solutions strategies. Pelage’s career began at Credit Lyonnais in New York, before joining Credit Agricole Indosuez’s Asian equities brokerage WI Carr in Hong Kong and eventually serving in risk management at Credit Agricole’s London office.
As outgoing Global CFO, Beach will provide a seamless transition to Pelage. Meanwhile his wealth of experience at IPG Mediabrands, including previous roles as Global Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at IPG Mediabrands, will serve him uniquely well in his new role, which encompasses implementing core operational transformation initiatives as well as achieving sustainability goals around the world.
“Guy is known to every brand, region, and market across Mediabrands, which is an invaluable asset but above all, Guy is a client advocate,” said Lee. “Throughout his time at Mediabrands, Guy has always put clients first. In his new role as global president, Guy will be empowered to create the global infrastructure we need in the 21st century to deliver on our commitments to clients around agility and speed to market.”
