Coegi, a leading digital media agency owned by True Independent Holdings (TIH), announced the appointment of Tessa Ohlendorf as President, North America.
In this role, Ohlendorf will oversee Coegi’s operations across both the United States and Canada, driving strategic growth and operational excellence for the company. Ohlendorf is also charged with harnessing advanced artificial intelligence and machine‑learning insights on behalf of clients to enhance Coegi’s programmatic advertising, connected TV (CTV), and social‑media capabilities. Her official start date as President, NA, was August 1st.
This strategic positioning leverages Coegi’s core strengths while complementing the broader portfolio of TIH agencies including Swell Media, RADaR, and True Media.
“Tessa brings visionary leadership, technology expertise, and operational acumen to Coegi, further strengthening a company already recognized as a proven digital partner for brands and agencies,” said Jack Miller, CEO of True Independent Holdings. “Her track record of scaling organizations, fostering innovation, and building high‑performing teams positions her to unify our North American operations and capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities.”
Ohlendorf brings 25 years of programmatic and mar-tech leadership experience to her new role. Most recently, she founded and led Fabric Folk, a consultancy helping agencies and brands future-proof operations through responsible AI adoption and change-management programs.
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Earlier in her career, she launched and scaled Cadreon (now “Kinesso”) for IPG Mediabrands Canada and, as Managing Director, led MightyHive (now ”Monks”). Most notably, Ohlendorf built a high‑retention team and cultivated long‑term client partnerships, consistently delivering measurable business growth across a wide range of industries.
“I’m thrilled to join Coegi at such an exciting inflection point for the company and the industry,” said Tessa Ohlendorf, President, North America at Coegi. “Coegi is perfectly positioned to seize the unprecedented opportunities to help brands and agencies reach consumers in meaningful ways. Coegi’s technology-first approach and talented team is primed to navigate clients through this evolving landscape and drive measurable business results.”
Ohlendorf’s people-first, results-driven approach has earned industry recognition including AdExchanger and AdMonsters’ “Top Women in Media & Ad Tech” honors. Her contributions have also garnered multiple Great Place to Work awards for the teams she has led. She holds executive certificates from the Rotman School of Management, Smith School of Business, MIT and UC Berkeley, and is a sought-after speaker on AI strategy, operational innovation and values-based leadership.
As part of the leadership transition, Sean Cotton, who previously served as CEO of Coegi US, will transition to a consulting role, providing strategic guidance during the integration process. Cotton’s expertise will continue to benefit the organization as it evolves under Ohlendorf’s leadership.
The appointment underscores True Independent Holdings’ commitment to investing in top-tier talent. Under Ohlendorf’s leadership, Coegi will continue to leverage technology, machine learning, and human talent to offer clients innovative solutions across the full spectrum of digital advertising.
This strategic move builds upon TIH’s joining the Meet The People (MTP) group of agencies, which has enhanced the company’s ability to serve clients across North America through its expanded network of specialized agencies.
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