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Horizon Media Holdings Names Bhavana Smith Chief Operating Officer, Advancing AI-Led Transformation
Horizon Media Holdings today announced the appointment of Bhavana Smith as Chief Operating Officer. In this newly established role, Smith will lead the agency's operational transformation as it evolves from a media agency to a growth partner. The appointment of Smith, an industry veteran with experience at Accenture, Publicis Groupe, and Mediacom, reflects a broader strategic shift in how the agency defines, measures, and delivers value, emphasizing performance, transparency, and client-aligned
About this update from Accenture Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"Newly established COO role and elevated leadership cohort signal shift from Media Agency to Growth Partner","length":106,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"NEW YORK, March 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Media Holdings today announced the appointment of Bhavana Smith as Chief Operating Officer. In this newly established role, Smith will lead the agency's operational transformation as it evolves from a media agency to a growth partner. The appointment of Smith, an industry veteran with experience at Accenture, Publicis Groupe, and Mediacom, reflects a broader strategic shift in how the agency defines, measures, and delivers value, emphasizing performance, transparency, and client-aligned outcomes.","length":559,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Horizon Media (PRNewsfoto/Horizon Media)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Horizon Media (PRNewsfoto/Horizon Media)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":400,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/38da35824bff30161d1d3345ef0c2527"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/CtLrvmJ8DKw7qfLPFQsXXQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTcwNQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/38da35824bff30161d1d3345ef0c2527","width":400,"height":400}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2035778/Horizon_Media_Logo.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"Horizon is advancing a performance-driven operating model powered by AI, built on radical transparency, an open ecosystem of partners, and performance-based compensation tied directly to client outcomes. By moving beyond traditional full-time equivalent billing and aligning more closely with CMOs' priorities, Horizon Media Holdings aims to deliver greater agility, stronger collaboration, and accelerated business growth.","length":427,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""The traditional agency model was built for agency revenue, not client outcomes," said Bob Lord, president of Horizon Media Holdings and CEO, Horizon Global. "That distinction is no longer sustainable. While many are applying new technologies to optimize legacy systems, we are taking a fundamentally different approach. We are replacing them, rebuilding our operating model from first principles, and aligning incentives to b...