Michael Epstein

Michael serves as the CEO Media Brands & Product, Dentsu Aegis Media, a new role for the group.  In this capacity, Michael is accountable for Dentsu Aegis’ Media brands which include Carat, denstuX, Vizeum, iProspect and Posterscope.  His primary responsibilities are to drive greater cohesion of Brand and Performance media as well as a connected product that addresses the evolving modern marketing ecosystem.  The focus of this work is to take complexity out of the system to deliver greater marketing impact for our clients. 

Michael also maintains his role as CEO, Carat Global and has been a critical architect of the digital transformation of Dentsu Aegis Network’s flagship media agency for the past 6 years.  Since February 2017, Michael has served as CEO of Carat, US. Under his leadership, Carat retained the media agency of record relationship for Microsoft, dramatically expanded existing relationships with P&G and posted new business wins from Intel, United and Philips. In his tenure, Carat’s overall US billings have grown 25%, with the agency’s digital footprint expanding by 30%. 

Recently named as Adweek’s 2019 Media Executive of the Year, Michael’s leadership is changing how Carat works and who Carat is as an agency. A key part of this transformation is harnessing Carat’s twin competitive advantage, its people-based marketing approach and platform and the solution-oriented, consultative expertise that innovates and disrupts in equal measure. 

Prior to 2017, Michael was CSO, Carat US where he was responsible for Carat’s Integrated Communications Planning (ICP) process, as well as the management and development of Carat’s suite of planning and buying tools.  He also founded the Catalyst Innovation team, a group focused on leveraging technology to deliver innovation and creativity into Carat's media approach. 

Michael lives with his wife, son and 2 golden retrievers in Pennsylvania, although he can often be found in the surf of LBI searching for the perfect wave.