Sauder Replaces Holbrook At Zipatoni

Karen Sauder has been promoted to president of Zipatoni, replacing Jim Holbrook on day-to-day oversight of the St. Louis-based agency. The promotion took effect Oct. 3.

Karen Sauder

Holbrook, who keeps his title of Zipatoni CEO, also remains as COO of Marketing Drive Worldwide, Zip's sister promotion agency under parent Interpublic Group of Cos.

"Karen will run Zipatoni when I exit, so it's good to give her the responsibilities now," Holbrook told PROMO. "I'll continue to help manage these businesses."

Sauder had been Zip's executive VP-general manager; she was regional manager of field services for Frito-Lay before joining Zipatoni in 1998 as a regional team leader. She takes the helm as president this week.

Meanwhile, Zipatoni has closed the office it opened in Wilton, CT less than a year ago (Feb. 22 Xtra). Helen FitzPatrick, who joined Zip last November as president-general manager of the East Coast office, left in September; remaining staffers have relocated to Zipatoni's Chicago and San Francisco offices.

"We have refocused our efforts to our growing Chicago and San Francisco offices after winning an unprecedented 11 out of 17 pitches this year," said Holbrook, who declined to name new clients.

Zipatoni ranked No. 44 in the 2005 PROMO 100 with estimated 2004 net revenues of $28 million, up about 1% from 2002.