RPA CEO Pete Imwalle steps down after 32 years; Jim Helberg named successor. The longtime independent agency elevates its chief media officer to the top job as it sharpens its strategic focus. RPA has named chief media officer Jim Helberg as its new CEO, succeeding Pete Imwalle, who has left the agency after more than three decades, the agency confirmed to ADWEEK. Imwalle spent 32 years at RPA, rising through the ranks to chief executive, a role he held during a period of continued independence for the Santa Monica-based agency and marked by longstanding relationships with marquee clients like American Honda. His departure marks a significant leadership shift for the largest independent advertising agency on the West Coast. Helberg, who has served as RPA's EVP and chief media officer since 2017, has nearly a decade of experience at the agency; previously, he held senior roles at Spark Foundry. He has also served on the 4A's Media Leadership Council and is an adjunct professor of media strategy at the University of Oklahoma. Helberg will work closely with agency president and COO Brett Bender to "architect an enhanced strategic approach to RPA's offering" amid ongoing shifts in the agency landscape, the agency said in a statement. "I appreciate the trust RPA has placed in me," Helberg said in a statement. "I welcome the opportunity to build upon RPA's past and recognize how well positioned our independent agency is to assist our clients in achieving greater business success." RPA's client roster also includes convenience store chain ampm, Apartments.com, Homes.com, Arco, Farmers Insurance Group, La-Z-Boy, LoopNet, Southern California Edison, and TXU Energy. Audrey Kemp is a staff reporter for Adweek based in New York City.

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