# Dave Penski
> Global CEO, Publicis Connected Media at publicis media
- Profile type: Person
- Profile status: baseline
- Last updated: 2026-05-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Canonical URL: https://thestateofstreaming.com/people/dave-penski/
- Also known as: David Penski
## Summary
Global CEO of Publicis Connected Media, the umbrella unit that combines Publicis Media, Epsilon, PMX, Influential and Publicis Groupe's digital experience agencies. A 25-plus-year Publicis veteran who rose through Zenith and PMX before running Publicis Media in the U.S.

## Profile facts

- Current title: Global CEO, Publicis Connected Media
- Current company: publicis media (https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/publicis-media/)


## Career trajectory

- 2009-01-01 — President, Zenith U.S. at zenith. Promoted to U.S. president of Zenith after roughly five years running the agency's Verizon account.
- 2012-07-24 — CEO, Zenith U.S. at zenith. Promoted to U.S. CEO of Zenith under ZenithOptimedia.
- 2016-03-01 — Global CEO, Publicis Media Exchange (PMX) at publicis-media-exchange. Took over Publicis Media's global investment arm shortly after the Publicis Media network launched.
- 2020-01-01 — Chief Operating Officer, Publicis Media U.S. at publicis-media. Added COO duties for Publicis Media U.S. while continuing to oversee PMX.
- 2021-02-08 — CEO, Publicis Media Americas at publicis-media. Named CEO of Publicis Media Americas, succeeding Tim Jones; retained PMX oversight.
- 2024-12-04 — Global CEO, Publicis Connected Media at publicis-media. Elevated to global CEO of the new Publicis Connected Media unit, which combines Publicis Media, Epsilon, PMX, Influential and the Groupe's digital experience agencies under a single P&L.


## Media appearances

- 2024-06-12 — keynote: Media in the Age of AI, Tribeca X / The Media Leader (https://uk.themedialeader.com/dave-penski-ceo-of-publicis-media-talks-ai-and-future-of-advertising-at-tribeca-x/)
- 2024-08-08 — video: Media in the Age of AI (Part 1), Publicis Groupe / YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfGqlyZJ_DY)

_This page uses only public-professional information (roles, public statements, media appearances)._

## Key facts

- Promoted in December 2024 to Global CEO of Publicis Connected Media, leading all Connected Media operations spanning Publicis Media, Epsilon, PMX, Influential and the Groupe's digital experience agencies. — Adweek: https://www.adweek.com/agencies/publicis-connected-media-promotions/
- Named CEO of Publicis Media Americas (later styled Publicis Media U.S.) on Feb. 8, 2021, succeeding Tim Jones, who moved to COO of Publicis Groupe Marketing Services. — MediaPost: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/360351/publicis-taps-penski-to-succeed-jones-as-media-ame.html
- Named U.S. CEO of Zenith under ZenithOptimedia in July 2012, his first holding-company CEO role. — Ad Age: https://adage.com/article/agency-news/zenithoptimedia-names-dave-penski-u-s-ceo-zenith/236290/
- Selected to the Adweek 50 of 2025, the publication's annual list of advertising, marketing, media and technology leaders. — Adweek: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/adweek-50-of-2025/


## Related

- publicis media (Global CEO (via Publicis Connected Media)) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/publicis-media/
- publicis groupe (Operating-unit CEO within Publicis Groupe) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/publicis-groupe/
- publicis media exchange (Former Global CEO) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/publicis-media-exchange/
- zenith (Former U.S. CEO) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/zenith/
- epsilon (Oversees as part of Publicis Connected Media) — https://thestateofstreaming.com/companies/epsilon/


## External coverage

- Adweek: Executive Moves Hint at Big Plans for Publicis Connected Media (https://www.adweek.com/agencies/publicis-connected-media-promotions/)
- MediaPost: Publicis Taps Penski To Succeed Jones As Media Americas Chief (https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/360351/publicis-taps-penski-to-succeed-jones-as-media-ame.html)
- Ad Age: ZenithOptimedia Names Dave Penski U.S. CEO of Zenith (https://adage.com/article/agency-news/zenithoptimedia-names-dave-penski-u-s-ceo-zenith/236290/)
- Adweek: The Adweek 50 of 2025: Industry Leaders at the Top of Their Game (https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/adweek-50-of-2025/)
- The Media Leader: Dave Penski, CEO of Publicis Media, talks AI and future of advertising at Tribeca X (https://uk.themedialeader.com/dave-penski-ceo-of-publicis-media-talks-ai-and-future-of-advertising-at-tribeca-x/)
- MediaVillage: Making the Case for Stronger Relationships: Publicis Media U.S. CEO Dave Penski (https://www.mediavillage.com/article/making-the-case-for-stronger-relationships-publicis-media-us-ceo-dave-penski/)

## Profile
Penski is the operator running the largest piece of Publicis Groupe's revenue base. The Connected Media umbrella, formalized in December 2024, gave him P&L authority over media buying (Publicis Media), identity and data (Epsilon), the investment arm (PMX), influencer (Influential) and the digital experience agencies — the bundle Publicis pitches as the alternative to a pure-play DSP relationship. For CTV and streaming sellers, he is the agency-side principal whose investment posture sets the tone for a meaningful share of U.S. upfront and programmatic spend.

## Tags

- agency-holding-company
- media-buying
- publicis
- holdco-leadership

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