# Jim Helberg

> Jim Helberg is the chief executive officer of Santa Monica advertising agency RPA, where a career built across media, automotive marketing and analytics has completed an unusual circle. An RPA executive on Honda in the late 1980s, he returned in 2012, became chief media officer in 2017 and took the chief executive role in October 2025. Alongside agency leadership, the 1983 University of Oklahoma graduate has taught media strategy at his alma mater since 2014 and serves on its Gaylord College Board of Visitors.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at RPA
- **Organizations:** RPA, University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Autobytel, Time Inc., Spark Foundry, PHD, OMD, FCB, Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in journalism, University of Oklahoma
- **Known for:** Named chief executive officer of RPA in October 2025 after serving as its chief media officer since 2017., Built senior-level experience across automotive advertising for Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Chrysler, as well as work in consumer packaged goods, airlines, toys and financial services., Returned to the University of Oklahoma as a media-strategy professor in 2014 and serves on Gaylord College's Board of Visitors.

## Career timeline

- **1983** — Graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
- **Late 1980s** — Worked as an RPA executive on the agency's Honda business.
- **Before 2010** — Held senior media roles at FCB, Grey and Saatchi & Saatchi; oversaw media at OMD and PHD for Nissan and Chrysler; and served as group vice president of corporate sales and marketing at Time Inc.
- **2010-2012** — Served as executive vice president of product, marketing and analytics at automotive shopping company Autobytel.
- **2012** — Returned to RPA in the newly created role of senior vice president of media strategy, integration and analytics.
- **2014** — Began teaching media strategy at the University of Oklahoma.
- **2017** — Became RPA's executive vice president and chief media officer.
- **2021** — Outlined a case for addressable television and urged broadcasters to invest in the technology needed to expand precise, measurable inventory.
- **2025** — Discussed mentorship, formal training and generational continuity on RPA's Clear the Air podcast; became RPA's chief executive officer in October.
- **2026** — As CEO, represented RPA in an agent-to-agent AI test with NBCUniversal, FreeWheel and Newton Research involving live sports advertising inventory.

## Achievements

- Named chief executive officer of RPA in October 2025 after serving as its chief media officer since 2017.
- Built senior-level experience across automotive advertising for Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Chrysler, as well as work in consumer packaged goods, airlines, toys and financial services.
- Returned to the University of Oklahoma as a media-strategy professor in 2014 and serves on Gaylord College's Board of Visitors.
- Received a Time Inc. President's Award in 2001, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.
- Participated in RPA's 2026 collaboration with NBCUniversal, FreeWheel and Newton Research to test AI-agent-assisted buying of live sports television inventory.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Continues to serve as RPA's CEO and is listed in that role by the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College Board of Visitors.
- **2026-02** — RPA's AI-agent collaboration with NBCUniversal, FreeWheel and Newton Research was reported as a functioning proof of concept for buying live NFL playoff inventory.
- **2026-01** — Announced RPA's participation in an agent-to-agent AI initiative for cross-platform video transactions, including live football inventory.
- **2025-10** — Succeeded Pete Imwalle as chief executive officer of RPA.
- **2025-06** — Joined Lisa Herdman on RPA's Clear the Air podcast to discuss the changing media landscape and rising costs.

## Links

- Website: https://www.rpa.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhelberg

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jim-helberg
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-26