After some 25 years in the industry, media veteran Jean Pool will be retiring from Interpublic Group's Universal McCann at the end of the month, reports AdWeek. She is North American COO there and EVP of its local spot-buying unit, LCI. Pool's retirement was announced by UM's president of U.S. operations, Mary Gerzema, who said "the media world…will miss her great energy, enthusiasm and forward-thinking leadership."

Gerzema said Pool "has made tremendous contributions to this industry and has never been afraid to express a strong opinion or fight for necessary change." At last month's 4As Media Conference in Orlando, in a keynote address, Pool sounded off against traditional media for failing to address clutter, fragmentation and accountability.

Pool's began her career at J. Walter Thompson, where she became EVP and North American media director and served on the worldwide board of directors. She was president of operations at Mindshare North America. She has been with UM since 2003.