CSM Appoints Jeff Shifrin As CEO for North America

Global sport and entertainment agency,CSM has appointed senior industry leader Jeff Shifrin as CEO of its North America business, in a signal to the market of its long-term commitment to the region.  The US, in particular, is a strategic priority for CSM’s growth as a full-service agency for existing and new clients in sport and entertainment.

A key focus of Shifrin’s role at CSM will be to further build its consulting capability in the U.S., complementing the agency’s international consulting services to support both its global client brands based in the US and those outside but active in North America.  Shifrin will also lead and develop CSM's Activation and Delivery business areas in the US including JMI and JHE.

Shifrin joins CSM after 18 years at Octagon Marketing Worldwide, where as President and COO he was responsible for growth of the agency both in the US and internationally. 

Shifrin begins with CSM on August 1 and will report to CSM’s Chairman, North and CSM Group CEO Zak Brown.

Brown commented: “Our decision to appoint an industry leader with Jeff’s stature and reputation reflects the importance of the US to CSM and the priority we place on continuing to build an outstanding offer in sponsorship brand consulting in the North American market, as well as globally.”

Brown continued: “Jeff has an impressive track record.  We know he will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to help us challenge the competition and serve our global clients with the best solutions in sponsorship.”

Shifrin said: “I’m delighted to be joining CSM.  They are a world-class organisation with great people and exciting ambitions.  After 18 fantastic years at Octagon I’m now relishing my next career challenge: helping continue CSM’s growth in North America.”

Jeff was recently named by the Sports Business Journal as one of the 50 most influential people in sports business.

Prior to Octagon, Shifrin spent seven years at Kraft Foods working on world-class brands in sports such as NASCAR, Major League Baseball, tennis, basketball, and the LPGA.