Editor's note: Russell Wager will be replacing Mazda's U.S. marketing director John Abel. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported who Wager would replace.
Mazda North American Operations today named longtime automotive advertising executive Russell Wager as vice president of marketing. Wager once handled Mazda's U.S. account for ad agency Doner.
Wager, 46, will replace U.S. marketing boss John Abel, whose next role will be announced soon, spokesman Eric Booth said in an e-mail.
Booth added the company has no plans -- at this time -- to fill the CMO position left vacant by the departure of Don Romano in July.
Wager had been senior vice president and managing director at DDB Advertising's Beijing office. Before that, he was at TBWA/Hakuhodo International in Tokyo. He also has led automotive accounts at several ad agencies including Nissan's agency TBWA/Chiat/Day, David & Goliath in El Segundo, Calif., and Doner Advertising of suburban Detroit, directing the account he will now lead.
Wager will oversee U.S. marketing communications, including print and electronic advertising, social media, the Mazda U.S. Web site, auto shows and the relationship with the company's marketing communications agency, The Garage Team Mazda.
He will report to Robert Davis, senior vice president of Mazda's U.S. operations group.
Through August of this year, Mazda sold 185,349 vehicles in the United States, up 12 percent from the same period last year.
Ryan Beene contributed to this report