As the new millennium begins, BBDO South has a number of new hires and promotions. Nik Mainthia has rejoined the agency as Executive Vice President/Media Director. Mainthia previously served as Executive Vice President/Chief Media Officer at Fitzgerald+CO in Atlanta, Vice President/Planning Director at BBDO South and also worked at BBDO Worldwide in New York. He will replace Allen Ginsberg in this position, as Ginsberg is shifting his focus to work on special projects for the agency. When at BBDO South as Vice President/Planning Director, Mainthia developed media planning strategies for Delta Air Lines, Georgia-Pacific, Hardee’s/Flagstar Food System, and Dodge Dealers Advertising Association. Before that, he served as Associate Director/Media Operations and Senior Manager/Media Planner for Lintas/India in Bombay, managing the largest media buying operation in India.

Shari Dennis has joined the agency as the new Executive Vice President and Management Director. She will work with clients such as RealEstate.com, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Iberia Airlines, and Atlanta 2000 (pro bono). Previously, Dennis served as Executive Vice President and Management Partner for Buntin Advertising in Nashville, Tenn., where she managed accounts for Block Drug, First American Corp., TCS (software), and Chinet. She developed the agency’s planning department, executed strategic planning for most of the agency’s accounts, and conducted the account management training program. Prior to that, Dennis served as Advertising Manager for Barnett Bank, Inc. in Florida.

Art Reid, previously Vice President/Account Supervisor, has recently been promoted to Vice President, Management Supervisor. Reid oversees the advertising and marketing efforts of Simmons Co. and Georgia Natural Gas Services. He began at BBDO in 1995 as a senior account executive after serving previously in that position with Fitzgerald & Co. Reid began his advertising career in New York with experience at J. Walter Thompson and Jordan, McGrath, Case & Taylor managing the marketing and advertising efforts of several large consumer clients.

Additional new hires at BBDO South include: Courtney Altine, Billing Coordinator; Steve Andrews, Senior Art Director; Bridget Baron, Media Planner; Berry Collins, Media Planner; Kelly Hicks, Assistant Media Planner; and Julie Hix, Print Production Manager.