Month: September 2022

he acquisition signals TBWA’s evolution into a brand experience company and a partner for brands beyond traditional advertising services

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TBWA\Worldwide, part of Omnicom Group Inc. ( NYSE: OMC), today announced that it has acquired the business of innovation agency dotdotdash, adding deeper experience design and immersive technology capabilities to the top-ranked global creative collective.

Headquartered in Portland, dotdotdash specializes in building future-forward brand experiences at the intersection of culture and technology, with expertise in extending brand ideas into new spaces and places. With employees in Portland, Los Angeles, New York and other markets, dotdotdash has worked with clients including adidas, PepsiCo, The North Face, and TikTok to create immersive brand experiences and technology-driven creative solutions.

Over the past 18 months, TBWA and dotdotdash have successfully collaborated across a number of projects. More recently, TBWA has started to engage dotdotdash on key global brands, including adidas and McDonald’s. This acquisition cements the relationship between the two companies, while bringing a more flexible working model that helps TBWA tap a vast set of highly specialized skills for clients on an as-needed basis.

Commenting on the acquisition, Troy Ruhanen, CEO of TBWA\Worldwide said, “dotdotdash brings some of the very best and most imaginative experience design and creative tech capabilities to TBWA. By combining dotdotdash’s bleeding-edge capabilities with our own, we will accelerate our ability to deliver disruptive brand experiences and continue to pioneer our clients into new spaces.”

Luke Eid, Chief Innovation Officer, TBWA\Worldwide and the leader of TBWA’s innovation practice NEXT, added “dotdotdash sits right at the convergence of physical and digital⏤blending both to imagine new kinds of disruptive brand experiences. They have an equal love for the role of brands and disruptive ideas in creating distinctive experiences that break from the sea of sameness.”

Kyle Bañuelos, dotdotdash co-founder and CEO, will continue leading the company as Managing Director⏤alongside partners Billy Vinton, Executive Director, Operations and Adam Paikowsky, Executive Director, Technology⏤as it scales as a distinct offering within the TBWA collective. dotdotdash will also become part of TBWA’s innovation practice NEXT, which focuses on how shifts in culture, tech and human behaviors are shaping the future of brand experiences. dotdotdash’s strategy, experience design and creative tech capabilities will further enhance TBWA’s abilities to ideate and deliver inventive brand experiences, while TBWA will provide dotdotdash a platform to elevate and scale their capabilities, at a time when clients are looking for agencies that can bridge big-brand thinking rooted in commercial growth, with deep technical expertise that is tailored to emerging tech and consumer behaviors.

Operating as its own brand within the TBWA collective, dotdotdash will round out TBWA’s existing experience design centers of excellence, while working closely with LA-based content and production studio BeGrizzlee.

Bañuelos added, “As we collaborated with TBWA on various projects over the past year, it’s clear we share the same vision for where the industry is headed⏤creativity that influences product and services, experience design and new forms of communications. That alignment, along with the opportunity to fuel our future growth with the brand thinking and global reach of TBWA, was exciting, as is the opportunity to be the tip of the spear to NEXT. We’re already working together to help our shared clients get to the future faster and are looking forward to doing more incredible things across multiple business units and capabilities.”

Notably, dotdotdash has spearheaded global activations for The North Face and PepsiCo; was responsible for bringing Industrial Robotics to Broadway; and executed the first-ever XR stunt within College Football on behalf of Xbox’s Halo franchise.

Alongside its proven track record of developing groundbreaking work, dotdotdash will bring experience-driven perspective and maker talent to TBWA, with multidisciplinary staff joining the 10,000+ creative minds across the TBWA collective. Their unique backgrounds across the art, architecture and computer science landscape will add greater depth and reach to the company’s experience design capabilities.

About dotdotdash

dotdotdash is an innovation company building future-forward brand experiences at the intersection of culture x technology. A collective of curious rebels, we combine deep knowledge with realistic optimism to push tomorrow’s mediums to today’s culture on behalf of our partners. 

About TBWA\Worldwide

TBWA is The Disruption^® Company. We use creativity to help businesses challenge the status quo and capture an unfair share of the future. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and Adweek‘s 2021 Global Agency of the Year, we are a disruptive brand experience company that uses trademarked Disruption^® methodologies to help businesses address their challenges and achieve transformative growth. Our collective has 10,000+ creative minds in 41 countries, and also includes brands such as Auditoire, Digital Arts Network (DAN), eg+ worldwide, GMR, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, TBWA\WorldHealth and TRO. Global clients include adidas, Apple, Gatorade, Henkel, Hilton Hotels, McDonald’s, Nissan and Singapore Airlines. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group ( NYSE: OMC)

Rhonda George-Denniston elevated to Chief Learning and Development Officer and Monica Torres to Executive Director, Global Recruiting

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TBWA\Worldwide today announced the promotion of Rhonda George-Denniston to Chief Learning and Development Officer and Monica Torres to Executive Director, Global Recruiting.

Both are new roles for the company and signal TBWA’s commitment to attracting, growing and retaining the world’s best creative talent by offering an unparalleled employee experience that places a premium on learning, development and growth.

As Chief Learning and Development Officer, George-Dennison leads TBWA’s talent development strategy, ensuring key talent is retained and thriving throughout their careers. Focusing on a systematic and interactive learning approach, she will advocate for individual growth plans, while leading TBWA’s signature learning and development programs, which span the full career lifecycle from entry level to the C-suite.

Since joining TBWA in 2001, George-Dennison has risen the ranks at TBWA, bringing years of experience and knowledge to TBWA and the people across the collective. In the last year, to create greater access to learning and development, she spearheaded the launch of TBWA\U—the company’s open-access learning platform—which is open to all and enables anyone to take control of their own career journey.

“Rhonda’s mission is to help people be their best selves,” said Amie Miller, Chief Talent Officer, TBWA\Worldwide. “Her energy, entrepreneurialism and ability to truly listen and foster a deep sense of connection have been invaluable to the people of our collective always, but especially over the past two and a half years. She continues to innovate and to tirelessly advocate for our people. At a time when people want different things out of their work experience and have changing aspirations, having Rhonda at the helm is even more critical.”

“I’m immensely proud and humbled to be TBWA’s first Chief Learning and Development Officer,” added George. “Over the years we have meticulously crafted a portfolio of development initiatives for our people. Today, it’s a new frontier in preparing our pirates to be future-ready; it’s challenging, it’s exciting, and I’m looking forward to working with my team, our leadership team and members of our collective to continue the work of expanding growth opportunities for our people to be life-long learners, thriving personally and professionally at TBWA.”

Torres joined TBWA\Chiat\Day NY in 2017 to lead the agency’s recruitment efforts. She has been integral in leading the agency’s effort to make the recruitment processes more objective by conducting extensive interviewer training and changing the company’s interview process to reduce bias in hiring.

In her new global role, she will lead TBWA’s high priority global searches, support global client talent needs, and lead the agency’s strategy for global talent mobility, ensuring the best talent can grow in the collective by having access to open roles across markets, disciplines and geographies.

“Monica understands the dynamics of an agency, clients and brands, and what makes for highly effective and fulfilled teams,” added Miller. “One of her gifts is to look outside of the conventional path to find talent in a parallel but different industry who would thrive in our creative organization. She understands what motivates people, and her rigor, positivity and dedication is unparalleled. We’re thrilled she is now working across our collective.”

Earlier this year, TBWA’s proprietary Future of Creative Work research found that compared with the general employee benchmark, the industry’s creative talent are significantly less likely to be satisfied with their work/life balance (55%, compared to a 64% global benchmark), and more likely to feel burned out or discouraged. George-Denniston and Torres will work with Miller, along with the collective’s talent leads and executive leadership, to drive the company’s employee experience agenda to meet the needs of modern talent.

For more information about working with The Disruption® Company, please see some of our open positions on TBWA’s LinkedIn.

About TBWA Worldwide

TBWA is The Disruption® Company. We use creativity to help businesses challenge the status quo and capture an unfair share of the future. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, AdAge’s 2022 Agency Network of the Year and Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year in 2021, we are a creative company that uses trademarked Disruption® methodologies to help businesses address their challenges and achieve transformative growth. Our collective has 10,000+ creative minds in 41 countries, and also includes brands such as Auditoire, Digital Arts Network (DAN), eg+ worldwide, GMR, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, TBWA\WorldHealth and TRO. Global clients include adidas, Apple, Gatorade, Henkel, Hilton Hotels, McDonald’s, Nissan and Singapore Airlines. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group ( NYSE: OMC).

About Omnicom Group Inc. 
Omnicom Group Inc. ( NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. 

SOURCE TBWA\Worldwide

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), an international, nonprofit membership organization for mental health professionals and provider of public resources, announced it has selected communications consultancy Ketchum as its agency of record (AOR) following a competitive pitch. The team from Ketchum’s Washington, D.C., marketplace will lead the account, and the remit includes enterprise communications, executive visibility, earned and paid social media and digital campaigns, corporate partnerships and event planning — including for the esteemed Anxiety & Depression Conference on April 13-16, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

“The Ketchum team is uniquely qualified to help our organization at this important time of growth and transition,” said Susan Gurley, executive director, ADAA. “Their professional experience — and passion — for our work is why we selected them as our partners. The creativity of their ideas and strategic approach will help us advance our mission to find new treatments and, one day, prevent and cure anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD and co-occurring disorders.”

As AOR, Ketchum will help to further establish ADAA’s mental health leadership and enlist more members, spokespeople and sponsors for the organization. The Ketchum team will work to identify key areas of need where ADAA can uniquely contribute to helping break mental health stigma and expand access to therapy and care. Through their multidisciplinary approach, the team will bring together clinicians and researchers with diverse backgrounds in medicine, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing, neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology and more.

“There is a tremendous public health need to better address today’s increasing mental health challenges,” said Michelle Baker, executive vice president, Health at Ketchum. “We are proud to have been chosen to partner with ADAA to help mental health professionals keep up with growing demand and evolving science and provide impactful resources for the public. Our team is dedicated to this work and to making a difference for patients, families and communities struggling with anxiety, depression and conditions including PTSD.”

About ADAA
Founded in 1979, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is an international nonprofit membership organization (with more than 1,500 international mental health professional members) and a leader in education, training, and research for anxiety, depression, and related disorders. More than 11 million people visit the ADAA website annually to find current treatment and research information and to access free resources and support. Visit www.adaa.org to learn more.

About Ketchum
The winner of 136 Cannes Lions, Ketchum is one of the most creatively awarded firms in our industry. We’re equal parts human-centered and business-focused, empathetic and intelligent. As a global communications consultancy, we combine the deep industry and specialty expertise of boutique firms with global reach to find unexpected connections that lead to lasting relationships and work that matters. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit www.ketchum.com.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, language strategy, global health strategy and change management. As the largest group of communications professionals in the world, our employees provide expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. ( NYSE: OMC).

About Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Group Inc. ( NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

SOURCE Ketchum Inc

Munk joins Tracy-Locke from VMLY&R Commerce to lead the agency’s strategic vision and further strengthen Compelling Commerce offerings

CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Curt Munk is joining Tracy-Locke, a leading commerce and communications agency, as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). This is the latest move in a set of strategic business decisions for the agency that started with the naming of Tina Manikas as President last June, followed by its expanded executive leadership board last September, and most recently, the agency’s ‘Compelling Commerce’ repositioning in August.

As CSO, Munk will lead strategy and CX planning teams across all global offices, focusing on creating Compelling Commerce strategies that inspire innovation and shape the future for Tracy-Locke’s clients.

“We’re at an exciting crossroad for Tracy-Locke as we start to culminate the strategic business decisions we’ve made this past year,” Manikas said. “As we continue to drive Tracy-Locke into its next era, I’m thrilled to welcome Curt Munk to our executive leadership board. After working together previously, I know his tireless push for innovation at every level and deep strategic commerce marketing knowledge will continue to shape our capabilities and focus on creative excellence and forward thinking – all with Compelling Commerce at the center.”

Munk’s creative approach to commerce is driven by his background in behavioral economics and strategic planning that applies human insights across cultural, social, technological, and economic arenas to guide consumers to buy. At Tracy-Locke, he will use his expertise connecting consumer behavior to Compelling Commerce solutions via sound strategy, new tools and capabilities that accelerate brand growth. His short-term priorities include developing deeper full-funnel commerce solutions for consumers and brands, helping the agency re-center on the principles of Compelling Commerce, and building a strategic culture of innovation.

“Our industry is at a turning point where the skills and knowledge that got us to commerce success in 2022 serve as an exciting foundation for the skills and capabilities that are now required for commerce success moving forward,” Munk said. “This is why the idea of Compelling Commerce drew me to Tracy-Locke as a refreshing vision with potential to make a real impact on the industry. I consider myself a passionate student of shopper behavior and appreciate Tracy-Locke’s roots in creativity that drives innovation.”

Before joining Tracy-Locke, Munk led the innovation and thought leadership practice at WPP’s VMLY&R COMMERCE with additional experience leading the strategic planning groups at several global agencies, including FCB Global, Epsilon (Ryan Partnership) and Saatchi & Saatchi X. His global commerce expertise includes shopper marketing, retail shop design, DTC and e-commerce, packaging, promotion, influencer marketing and merchandising solutions for many major brands, including Coca-Cola, Nestlé Purina, ABInbev, P&G, Walmart and SAMSUNG, among others.

About Tracy-Locke:

Tracy-Locke is an award-winning, global commerce and communications agency bringing an unmatched level of empathy, technology and creativity to design experiences that compel conversation and conversion, building brands at the speed and scale of commerce. A pillar of the Omnicom Commerce Group, Tracy-Locke offers full-service capabilities ranging from innovation to implementation. Clients include PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, Diageo, Godiva, Pizza Hut, LEGO, and Samsung. For more information, visit www.tracylocke.com.

Omnicom Commerce Group 

Tracy-Locke is part of Omnicom Commerce Group (OCG), a global community of four award winning commerce agencies, working with brands and retailers to offer best in class consultancy, creativity and capability focused on driving increased conversion and transaction.  OCG’s priority is to address the need for innovative multi-channel commerce expertise in the rapidly evolving world of retail and shopping.  OCG encompasses Haygarth, The Integer Group, TPN and Tracy-Locke together employing 1800 people across 22 markets – for more information please visit www.omnicomcommercegroup.com. 

OCG is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. ( NYSE: OMC)  

SOURCE Tracy-Locke

Ad industry veteran joins DDB’s Global CEO Marty O’Halloran’s leadership team

NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — DDB Worldwide has named Alex Lubar Global President & Chief Operating Officer. This appointment is a strategic move to further strengthen DDB’s global leadership team under Global CEO, Marty O’Halloran.

Lubar joins DDB Worldwide with extensive global leadership credentials. Currently President, McCann North America, Lubar joined McCann in 2012 and held several regional leadership roles during the course of his tenure there. Before taking on his role at the helm of the North America region, Lubar led the Asia Pacific region, and was also the CEO of McCann London. Prior to that he served as global chief marketing officer and held leadership roles with agencies including Grey and BBH.

Said O’Halloran: “My vision is to continue to hire the best talent in the industry and drive DDB Worldwide’s growth. Alex embodies DDB’s values and passion for unexpected creativity as the accelerant for client and agency growth. I am absolutely delighted he will be joining our team to fuel our current strategic plan globally. He shares our belief that creativity and emotion are the drivers of long term, sustainable growth and I am excited to add him on to my DDB Worldwide leadership team.”

Said Lubar: “DDB is such an iconic agency with an astounding creative legacy. I am honored to work with Marty and his global leadership team to continue to take DDB and the network’s clients to new levels of growth and fame.”

O’Halloran will continue elevating DDB WW’s plan to deliver an exceptional creative product through best-in-class talent and modern tools and capabilities, all through the lens of DDB’s philosophy that Unexpected Works. “Our ambition is to be the best creative agency in the world. Alex will further strengthen my global leadership team and help us reach higher levels of organic and net new growth, while also continuing to put creativity at the center of all that we do,” said O’Halloran.

Lubar will join DDB Worldwide in the network’s NYC Headquarters in mid-October of this year.

ABOUT DDB WORLDWIDE
DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. DDB has been named Agency Network of the Year 2022 Effies US, Asia Pacific Network of the Year 2022 Spikes Asia, #3 Global Network in 2022 by the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, Network of the Year by D&AD in 2022 and 2021, Network of the Year ADC in 2021, Network of the Year 2021 Effies Latin America, Network of the Year 2021 El Ojo, as well as numerous accolades from the industry’s leading advertising publications and awards shows. WARC has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 12 of the last 15 years. The network’s clients include Molson Coors, Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Unilever, Mars, Peloton, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson, and the U.S. Army, among others. Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group ( NYSE: OMC) and consists of over 10,000 employees across 149 offices in over 63 countries, with its flagship office in New York, NY.  

ABOUT OMNICOM
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE – OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. 

CONTACT: Donna Tobin, Global Chief Marketing & Communications Officer; [email protected]

SOURCE DDB Worldwide