Michael Roth and Luis Di Como in Conversation

Michael I. Roth, chairman and CEO of Interpublic and Luis Di Como, Senior Vice President Global Media at Unilever, talked about the global shift in consumer behavior, the rapidly changing media and marketing environment, and how businesses need to think differently about developing a global content strategy. Among the issues they explored were new digital ad technologies, the continuing importance of breaking through the clutter with memorable ideas and the importance of developing strategies for positive social impact.


Michael Roth
Chairman and CEO, IPG

Michael I. Roth is Chairman and CEO of Interpublic (NYSE: IPG), one of the world's largest organizations of advertising and marketing services companies. Prior to serving in his current role, Roth was a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Since assuming leadership of Interpublic in 2005, Roth has righted the company’s financial course and moved to make it an industry leader by defining new models that provide value to clients in a rapidly-changing media and marketing environment.

Prior to his current role, Roth was Chairman and CEO of The MONY Group Inc., a financial services holding company that provides a wide range of protection, asset accumulation and retail brokerage products and services through its member companies. Under Roth's leadership, The MONY Group diversified its business mix, broadened its distribution channels and enhanced its ability to compete in today's financial services marketplace.

Roth is a member of the Board of Directors for Pitney Bowes Inc., the Ad Council and Ryman Hospitality Properties. He sits on the Leadership Committee of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; the Board of Directors of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA). In addition, he is a Director of The Baruch College Fund and The Partnership for New York City. He is also a member of the Business Roundtable and New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s Heart Steering Committee.

A certified public accountant, Roth holds an L.L.M. degree from New York University Law School and a J.D. from Boston University Law School. He is a 1967 graduate of the City College of New York.

Luis Di Como
Senior Vice President - Global Media, Unilever

Luis Di Como’s career at Unilever has spanned many continents and his role of SVP-Global Media certainly reflects that experience. He started with the company in his native Argentina. He eventually rose to the company’s Vice President Media Americas, where he oversaw integrated media communication plans for all brands across the region.

Luis did have a number of stops along the way and around the world, including Global Marketing Manager for Sunsilk, based in Thailand, and Global Communication Planning Director, based in London.

In his current role, Luis has responsibility for leading Unilever’s global media agenda. He oversees media strategy, media innovation and global partnerships, specifically in the digital and content area.

Luis was born and raised in Argentina and is also a University of Buenos Aries-trained economist and with an MBA.