New York, United States, March 2026 – Horizon Media Holdings has announced the appointment of Bhavana Smith as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking the creation of a new leadership role focused on driving the company’s next phase of operational transformation.
In this newly created position, Bhavana Smith will lead enterprise-wide operational initiatives, strengthening execution capabilities, enhancing organizational effectiveness, and aligning strategy with scalable business outcomes as Horizon continues to expand its global influence in the marketing and advertising ecosystem.
Most recently, Bhavana Smith served as Founder & CEO of Until There Are Nine®, a platform focused on empowering women to achieve equitable compensation and career advancement, reflecting her commitment to inclusive leadership and talent development.
She has also worked as an independent Marketing Consultant, leveraging over 25 years of experience to advise organizations on organizational restructuring, go-to-market strategy, talent management, and global agency operations, helping businesses unlock growth and operational efficiency.
Previously, she was EVP, Managing Director and Head of Strategy & Operations (US & Canada) at Apex (Publicis Media), where she led large-scale organizational redesign, integrated digital and traditional media capabilities, and drove transformation initiatives that improved revenue growth, client perception, and employee engagement.
Earlier, she served as Chief Client Officer at MediaCom, where she was part of the executive leadership team, leading client strategy, improving satisfaction scores, driving revenue growth, and achieving 100% client retention during her tenure.
She also held leadership roles at Accenture, draftfcb, Mediavest, and DDB, building deep expertise in digital transformation, media strategy, and large-scale client engagement across global markets.
About Horizon Media Holdings
Horizon Media Holdings is a leading marketing and advertising agency headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. Founded in 1989, the company is recognized for delivering business-driven outcomes for marketers and has grown into the third-largest U.S. media agency, with estimated billings of $8.7 billion and a workforce of over 2,300 employees.
Renowned for its innovation and culture, Horizon Media has been consistently recognized by leading industry platforms such as Fast Company, Adweek, AdAge, and MediaPost. The company is also widely acknowledged as one of the best workplaces globally, earning accolades for diversity, inclusion, and employee experience.
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