ID Media, an Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) media agency, announced today that Lynn Fantom, Chairman & CEO of the agency since its inception in 2002, will retire, effective June 1. Amy Armstrong, who most recently served as EVP, Managing Director of ID Media’s Los Angeles office, will be elevated to lead the agency as President.
Fantom’s retirement comes after a 40-year career spanning data-driven marketing, web services, and media. She began as a secretary and rose through the ranks as a working mother to become President of the New York office of Draft (now FCB) and CEO of three different agencies, Lowe Direct, K2 Digital, and ID Media.
At ID Media, she not only integrated two different agencies as they were rolled up to form ID Media, but she spearheaded growth, doubling the agency’s revenue since its launch. She has also ushered the agency and its clients through periods of massive change, including the rise of digital media, the advent of online video, and most recently the emergence of programmatic buying.
Over the course of her career, Fantom was a champion of corporate culture as a driving force for business performance. At ID Media, she launched an array of initiatives, creating a culture that has been recognized with seven “Best Places to Work” awards and seven IPG awards for diversity and inclusion. (ID Media is made up of 40% people of color and two-thirds women.)
Fantom was also an early advocate for corporate social responsibility. In 2003, she launched a community mission to help people facing cancer. Working closely with ID Media’s media partners, the company has since raised over $1 million for cancer-related nonprofits. In 2011, Gilda’s Club New York honored Fantom with the Bill Modell Heart of Gold award.
Reflecting on her career and the appointment of Armstrong as her successor, Fantom noted, “It cannot be overstated how important culture is to the agency business. Creating a culture of commitment – one in which employees and the company are equally devoted to each other – truly drives business results. It gives me great confidence to transition ID Media’s leadership to Amy Armstrong. Not only is she an outstanding media professional, but she shares these values, which have been intrinsic to ID Media’s success.” Read more.