Author: Amanda Granath

Donna Tobin to oversee Marketing & Communications for the global network.

NEW YORK, May 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — DDB Worldwide has today announced that Donna Tobin has joined the global advertising network as Global Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. Tobin joins DDB to oversee all global and North America internal and external corporate communications.

Tobin will report directly to DDB Worldwide CEO Marty O’Halloran on all matters of marketing communications, brand management, media relations, corporate social responsibility and internal and cultural communications.

O’Halloran said: “We are thrilled to have Donna joining DDB to help shape our global narrative and connect our refreshed vision with the wider market. Her diversified background and unique understanding of both brand marketing and the advertising agency landscape will be invaluable to our organisation as we invest more in the DDB brand moving forward.”

Tobin brings to her role a diverse set of skills and over 20 years of agency and brand experience in marketing and advertising. Tobin has worked within and led global agencies such as Arnold Worldwide, Grey and VaynerMedia and has extensive experience running global brands and leading marketing, communications, and product development across industries including food and beverage, fashion and toys at companies such as Ocean Spray, Hasbro and WPP’s Kantar.

Most recently she was the EVP of Marketing, Communications, Events and Partnerships at the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) where she led the organization’s new vision, mission, marketing and communications strategies, and the re-imagination of the 4A’s virtual thought leadership events. Tobin’s expansive background in the marketing and communications landscape will inform her approach to this new role.

“I am extremely excited to be joining DDB Worldwide during this time of cultural and creative transformation under Marty’s and Ari Weiss’ leadership. I’ve always admired DDB’s incredible creative legacy and am honored to be a part of the continuously innovative path forward with such amazing, super talented global teams,” said Tobin. 

Her appointment follows the addition of Lindsay Bennett to the global communications team, joining from DDB Australia where she led the Marketing and New Business function since 2019.

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 of the Year numerous times by the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and the industry’s leading advertising publications and awards shows. The WARC has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 12 of the last 15 years. The agency’s clients include Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and the U.S. Army, among others.

Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 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 100 countries.

Contact: Donna Tobin, [email protected]

SOURCE DDB Worldwide

Andrea Diquez is appointed DDB Chicago CEO

NEW YORK, May 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — DDB North America today announced the addition of a new leader at the helm of their Chicago office. Andrea Diquez joins DDB Chicago as Chief Executive Officer.

DDB looks to Diquez’s inspirational leadership to ignite growth for the region’s largest office.

“Andrea is bringing an incredible set of skills and experience to DDB Chicago,” says North America CEO Justin Thomas-Copeland. “She is landing at DDB during an incredible time for our agency, but also at an amazing time in her career. She will become our first female CEO in Chicago, an office with a history of explosive growth and creativity. These are characteristics which Andrea innately brings through her leadership style and outlook. She combines creativity and connected thinking to deliver the unexpected to clients and spark growth.”

Originally from Venezuela, Andrea has spent the majority of her over 25-year career in New York, most recently serving as CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi New York. Under her leadership the office experienced a period of significant transformation, growth and industry recognition that included numerous creative and effectiveness awards.

Andrea brings to her role a people-first mindset and rich experience in capturing cultural moments and transforming business for her clients across multiple industries. This approach will drive the agency’s strategy across its global client roster. As DDB Chicago CEO, Diquez will report directly to Thomas-Copeland and oversee all aspects of the business for DDB’s largest North American office.

“I’m thrilled to join the incredible team at DDB,” says Diquez. “DDB is famous for its creativity and I’m excited to infuse that creative spirit into every part of the business. I am drawn to DDB’s new ambition that combines creativity and connection to drive relevance, unlock audiences and ultimately grow our clients’ business in unexpected ways. I believe this will be a winning combination to continue the growth of DDB Chicago, too.”

An Ad Age Woman to Watch and ADCOLOR Champion award recipient, Diquez understands that diversity is critical in growing business and bringing creativity to clients. Throughout her career, Diquez has effectively built highly diverse teams that deliver powerful creative solutions for complex business challenges.

“Andrea will put DDB on a new trajectory,” says Thomas-Copeland. “We are honored to have such a progressive, creatively minded and inspiring leader join our ranks. We look forward to Andrea sparking growth for our clients, their brands and also for our business.”

ABOUT DDB
DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. DDB has been named Agency of the Year numerous times by the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and the industry’s leadingadvertising publications and awards shows. The WARC has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 12 of the last 15 years. The agency’s clients include Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and the U.S. Army, among others.

Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 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 100 countries.

Media Contact:
Xavier Totor
[email protected]

SOURCE DDB North America

NEW YORK, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Rob Flaherty, chairman of leading global communications consultancy Ketchum, today announced a planned retirement after an esteemed 40-year career as an innovator and leader in the public relations industry and more than 32 years at Ketchum. His last day with the firm will be June 15. 

Since joining Ketchum in 1989, Flaherty climbed the ranks at the top-five global firm, having led its headquarters office in New York, managed its global corporate practice and many of its largest global client engagements before becoming president in 2008 and serving as CEO from 2012 to 2017. Flaherty has since served as chairman, counseling clients at the C-suite level and developing corporate positioning and narratives for some of the world’s leading corporate brands. 

During Flaherty’s 32-year tenure, the firm grew exponentially in size, having expanded globally to its current presence with offices and affiliates in more than 70 countries. In his combined 13 years serving as president, CEO and chairman, Ketchum won more awards for its client work than any other agency, including multiple Cannes Lions, SABRE Awards, PRWeek Awards and Silver Anvils, in addition to being named PRWeek‘s Best Agency of the Past 20 Years in 2019. 

“I’m incredibly proud to have helped lead this firm into its second century, and to then have witnessed the resiliency we’ve shown in navigating the most challenging crisis of our lifetime over the last year,” said Flaherty. “I leave knowing that this firm is in the best of hands with CEO Mike Doyle and his executive leadership team, and that their vision for the future will lead Ketchum, its people and its clients to continually grow and thrive.”

Doyle added, “There is only one Rob Flaherty, and what a privilege it has been for our Ketchum colleagues and clients to stand behind and beside him all these years. He has been Ketchum’s conscience, and the character, authenticity, warmth and deep passion for the communications craft he has instilled in this firm will reverberate through our physical and virtual halls forever.”

Committed to the development of the public relations discipline, Flaherty plans to continue serving as a board member for several industry organizations, including the Arthur W. Page Society’s Board of Trustees, the LAGRANT Foundation’s Board of Directors, and the College of Charleston’s Department of Communication Executive Advisory Council. 

“One of the things I love the most about the job of the professional communicator is using our skills to help people – doing good for business while also bettering society,” said Flaherty. “In retirement I look forward to giving back by continuing to serve organizations that advance our industry, while also donating my time and skills by crafting narratives and leading strategy sessions for nonprofit organizations that are making a real difference in our communities.” 

Renowned as one of the industry’s top thought leaders, Flaherty has spoken on key global stages, including Web Summit, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, PRAXIS India, and the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Flaherty previously served on the Institute for Public Relations’ executive committee, the board of the Economic Crime Institute, and on the agency management committee of the PR Council. He has served on the advisory board of directors for Room to Read and has co-chaired the Public Relations Society of America’s annual international conference. 

Flaherty’s innumerable contributions to the industry have been recognized with significant awards and honors, including multiple inclusions on PRWeek‘s Power List, being named PR Leader of the Year by the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), and winning a lifetime achievement SABRE Award from PRovoke Media. 

Prior to Ketchum, Rob worked at Burson-Marsteller in New York. Prior to that, he was Director of Public Relations for the F.X. Matt Brewing Company in Utica, N.Y. He is a graduate of Utica College of Syracuse University and was the 2017 distinguished speaker for Utica College’s undergraduate commencement ceremony.

About Ketchum 
The winner of 105 Cannes Lions and PRovoke‘s Global Creative Agency of the Year, Ketchum is the most creatively awarded firm 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, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their 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 DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

SOURCE Ketchum

NEW YORK, April 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —RXMOSAIC (RXM) today announces the appointment of Jen Fuhrman-Kestler as Executive Director. An industry expert known for inspiring teams, driving business growth, and championing brave work, in her new role Fuhrman-Kestler will further Healthcare innovation capability and oversee key strategic client relationships. She brings a successful track record of results and new business wins with two decades’ experience.

“Welcoming Jen to the RXM team is another step in realizing the Agency’s vision of innovating not only in communications work, but also in how we build next-generation teams for our clients,” says Jennifer O’Neill, Managing Director, Healthcare, for RXM and Marina Maher Communications. “We uniquely designed Jen’s role to service one of our largest global clients crossing oncology and corporate, which will leverage her expertise and stellar background in digital innovation. It’s the perfect marriage for the business.”

An award-winning marketer joining RXM from Golin, where she served as EVP Healthcare, Fuhrman-Kestler’s rich experience includes delivery of both thought-leadership and consumer initiatives furthering reputational lift; work on a range of clients including Humana, Teva, Kaiser Permanente, Astellas and J&J; stakeholder relationship management and partnership development; and digital, social and influencer content creation. The important topics she has touched range from enabling patient safety during COVID; curbing the opioid epidemic; and educating clients and consumers alike across verticals such as oncology, cardiovascular, metabolic disorders, allergy, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Of her move to RXM, Fuhrman-Kestler says, “I’m energized to join this impressive team that shares my passion for the advancement and evolution of healthcare. RXM is a formidable player helping lead meaningful industry impact and transformation in partnership with their clients, and I’m extremely proud to be here. Connecting the dots between complex strategy and tactical execution, partnering to solve problems, and building new capabilities that further business goals, patient outcomes, and the communications discipline…these are the things that truly drive me as a leader.”

Throughout COVID, RXM’s expertise in science and innovation has led to continued growth. Fuhrman-Keslter is one of many recent hires who will further drive the agency forward in partnership with RXM Deputy Director, Andrea Pellicciari.

About RXMOSAIC (RXM)
RXMOSAIC is known as the healthcare communications lab: a place filled with passionately obsessed minds, rich data, and the latest tools to invent the next generation of healthcare communications to drive our clients’ businesses forward. With a proud team of geeks, explorers, and futurists, the agency is committed to continual research and validation to unearth new and often unexpected insights; employs a hybrid approach to problem-solving that marries science with creativity; and possesses the uncanny ability to unite multiple stakeholder POVs under a common vision. RXM brings boutique-style energy backed by Omnicom Group global resources, and in partnership with Marina Maher Communications, to lead healthcare communications innovation in a rapidly changing world.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG)
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, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their 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 DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

Media Contact:  
Laura Brinker 
[email protected]
513-293-8136

SOURCE Rx Mosaic Health

Former WPP Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity Brings Her Extensive Industry Experience and Partnerships to Accelerate the Agency’s DE&I Plan and Broaden Its Network

ST. LOUIS, April 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — FleishmanHillard today announced the appointment of Adrianne C. Smith (she/her) to chief diversity and inclusion officer, from WPP where she previously served as its first global director of inclusion and diversity. In her new role, she will advance FleishmanHillard’s global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) strategy and continue its ambition to become the most inclusive agency in the world.  

While at WPP Smith guided the organization’s global community on the foundational underpinnings for DE&I strategies and led the team responsible for building an internal global inclusion and diversity resource platform for its network of agencies. She also oversaw a collective of DE&I executives from more than 20 agencies who collaborated to share best practices and support one another on their DE&I journeys. Smith was also responsible for developing a global conscious inclusion learning and development series focused on allyship, anti-racism, covering, bystander training and building inclusive cultures.

“DE&I is the defining issue of our time and we must be change agents – forging new and reimagined standards, ideas, values and ways of coming together,” said John Saunders, FleishmanHillard president and CEO. “Adrianne is an established industry innovator with the perfect combination of experience creating high-impact forums to explore diversity solutions, and unsurpassed professional and academic experience. She will be able to help us take immediate action that elevates our organization and creates sustainable change – for us and for our clients.”

Smith will report to Saunders and be a member of FleishmanHillard’s global leadership Cabinet, leading the work of the agency’s DE&I taskforce to execute against and further the agency’s 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, which includes moving DE&I to the center, growing and retaining talent, making DE&I intrinsic to its work, broadening its aperture and creating community connection. She will work in close partnership with Leela Stake and Adiya Mobley, co-leaders of True MOSAIC, the firm’s fast-growing capability specifically created to provide DE&I counsel and solutions to clients.

“As an advocate and activist, my forward focused DE&I journey has been one of creating opportunities and providing access for those who have been historically left out of the advertising and marketing profession,” Smith said. “This journey has also included educating the industry on the value of diverse human capital. FleishmanHillard’s core business is built around storytelling and shaping narratives. They have laid a solid DE&I foundation to build a sustainable practice that moves the work from intentional to impactful. I’m honored to be a part of their journey to become the most inclusive agency in the world.”

With more than 20 years of industry and advocacy experience, Smith’s career has been focused on making the invisible visible by creating opportunities for under-represented communities. She participated on the launch team for a digital sub-television network as director of advertising at Soul of the South Network – SSN TV, the only broadcast network to focus on the unique experiences of the 20 million African Americans living in the South. Smith was also the first executive director of the Howard University Center for Excellence in Advertising. There her mission was to recruit and train people of color with nontraditional advertising backgrounds, but who had transferrable skills, for the advertising industry. Sixty eight percent (68%) of the participants in the program still work in the advertising industry. Other previous roles include managing director of AdHere Network/Harlem TV-CIC, vice president of ad sales at the African Heritage Network and media buyer/planner for Leo Burnett.

Smith will continue her work with the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective, which she founded in 2017 to generate awareness and create access and pathways for underrepresented talent to excel in advertising, marketing, media and creative industries. The organization launched the first inclusion and diversity activation in the history of the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, Inkwell Beach – Cannes, which featured more than 100 speakers including prominent media personalities, actors and actresses and business executives. Additionally, she serves as a DE&I advisor to Cannes Lions on talent recruitment, programming and building an inclusive culture. Smith is also the founder of Vision Corps Media Group, a media incubation company developed to create new content for current and emerging media outlets including documentaries and TV specials.  

Smith replaces Emily K. Graham, FleishmanHillard’s first CDIO, who was promoted to chief equity and impact officer at Omnicom in January 2021. 

About FleishmanHillard
FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2019 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Large Agency; 2019 Holmes Report North America Large Agency of the Year; ICCO Network of the Year – Americas 2017-2020; PRovoke Media Greater China Consultancy of the Year 2020; PRWeek UK Best Places to Work 2020; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 2018-2020; and NAFE’s “Top Companies for Executive Women” 2010-2020. The firm’s award-winning work is widely heralded, including at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 50 countries.

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, marketing to women, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,300 public relations professionals in more than 370 offices worldwide who provide their 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 DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

SOURCE FleishmanHillard Inc.

Reyes to assume full client and operational responsibilities as Rob Schwartz moves into a new role of Chair of the newly-formed TBWA New York Group

NEW YORK, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — TBWA today announced that Nancy Reyes is being elevated to Chief Executive Officer of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York.

With this promotion, Reyes expands her role and takes over full leadership of the agency from Rob Schwartz, who has been CEO since 2015. It’s the latest step in a steady rise since Reyes joined the agency in April 2016 as Managing Director, becoming President in July 2018. She will report to Troy Ruhanen, CEO, TBWA\Worldwide.

Working in partnership with Schwartz and the agency’s executive leadership team, Reyes has led the agency through a resurgent period, growing more than 180% in five years. She has been instrumental in generating new business that leads to enduring client partnerships, such as with Hilton, TD Bank, Facebook and PepsiCo, and in elevating the agency’s creative product. TBWA\Chiat\Day New York was the TBWA collective’s top performing agency at the 2019 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and the #5 individual office in the world at the last Lions festival. Reyes was named a “Woman to Watch” by Advertising Age in 2019.

Amid the pressures of 2020, TBWA\Chiat\Day New York grew, winning new assignments from PepsiCo (bubly, RISE and lays), Facebook Oculus and Abbott, and adding more than 60 employees, as the agency helped its clients navigate an unprecedented year and prepare for recovery.

Troy Ruhanen, CEO, TBWA\Worldwide said, “Nancy is an exceptional leader, business partner to our clients and developer of talent. She understands the power of creative ideas in driving unreasonable growth and the importance of empathy in motivating people. Her impact on the New York agency and on our collective has been undeniable.  I am confident she will lead our team in New York to an exceptionally strong next chapter.”

Reyes added, “The past five years have been an incredible journey that’s only possible through partnership—with our leadership team, clients, and every person who works at the agency. I am so proud of the creative ideas we’ve brought to life together, the growth of our people and the talent that is making beautiful ideas a reality on behalf of our clients. I’m excited for this next step and for what we will achieve together.”

Schwartz, a 20+ year veteran of TBWA\Chiat\Day, and CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York since 2015, is moving into a newly created role as Chair of the TBWA New York group, which includes TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, Lucky Generals New York and 180NY. His role as Chair comes with the remit to market and grow the three TBWA-affiliated agencies, serving as a resource to their leadership, bringing to bear his knowledge of the TBWA collective, the agencies’ distinct offerings and the synergies between them. While stepping away from day-to-day leadership of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, he will continue as an advisor and cultural resource for the agency and will also continue to host the award-winning Disruptor Series Podcast he created.

“The turnaround that Rob initiated in 2015 set the foundation for the agency’s success today. He’s been a tremendous mentor and partner to Nancy and the New York agency leadership team. As he steps into this new role, he is uniquely positioned to guide our New York group with his blend of experience as a CEO and CCO, his marketing savvy, mentorship and connectivity in the New York market. He will be invaluable to the agencies and leaders in our New York group,” continued Ruhanen.

“Nancy has been a true partner in rebuilding the agency and she has earned this next step to lead TBWA\Chiat\Day New York. I could not be prouder and more confident in the team we have in place to take the agency to the next level,” said Schwartz. “As I look to new challenges, I am energized about the potential within our New York Group. Now more than ever, brands have a choice in the agencies they work with and three of the best are right here.”

Schwartz continued, “We offer a wealth of talent in different agencies of different size, scale and expertise and in this new role, I’ll be positioned to bring these resources to lots of different clients.”

Reyes joined TBWA\Chiat\Day New York in 2016 and has been instrumental in its turnaround. Her impact on talent and culture within the agency has been equally profound. She has led TBWA\Chiat\Day New York’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, which treat diversity as an agency roster client, with budget, time and talent allocated. In 2018 she created a mentorship and leadership program called Circle of Women, aimed at building a pipeline of women leaders within the agency by offering executive coaching and mentorship to a high potential group of women on the cusp of leadership. Half of the program’s participants are women of color.

Reyes joined the agency from Verizon, where she was VP of Marketing Creative, responsible for 360-degree creative product for the wireless business, which included advertising, retail and social marketing. Prior to Verizon, she was Managing Director of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners’ New York office, though much of her advertising career was spent in GS&P’s San Francisco office, where she worked on a variety of accounts, including Adobe, HP, Frito-Lay, Google and Comcast. A graduate of Harvard University, Reyes began her career in New York City at Ogilvy & Mather.

About TBWA\Chiat\Day New York
Known as the Disruption® Company, TBWA\Chiat\Day NY is the New York office of the TBWA global collective. Named to AdAge’s A-list in 2019 and 2020 and recognized as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, we help brands find strategic and creative white space through the power of Disruption. Clients include abbott, adidas, bubly, Brooklyn Film Festival, Columbia Journalism Review, Dial, Facebook, got2b, Hilton, lays, Mayo Clinic, Mountain Dew, Nissan, One Love Foundation, RISE, Schwarzkopf, Snuggle, TD Bank, Thomson Reuters and Travelers. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC).

About TBWA New York Group
The TBWA New York Group of companies is designed to help brands of all sizes and stripes grow. Each agency in the TBWA New York Group is creatively-driven and built to solve business problems. From the iconic, full-service TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, to Lucky Generals, a creative company for people on a mission, to 180NY, which is reinventing brand building for the modern age, each agency operates independently and charts its own course, while making the most of the power of the TBWA collective.

SOURCE TBWA\Chiat\Day

Johnson and Cruz join from 215 McCann and Pereira O’Dell, respectively

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BBDO San Francisco announced a new leadership team today in Kelly Johnson as Chief Executive Officer and Thiago Cruz as Chief Creative Officer.

Johnson joins from her most recent post as President of 215 McCann, where she has spent the past eight years leading brands such as LinkedIn, Workday, Xbox, Minecraft, Hulu, Pandora and the SF Giants. Her experience also includes stints at agencies like Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

Cruz, originally from Brazil, joins BBDO San Francisco after over 15 years working for top creative agencies in five different cities, in four different countries, on three different continents. He most recently served as Creative Director for Pereira O’Dell. Throughout his career he has created high profile campaigns for clients such as Diesel, AB InBev, Heineken, Motorola, Coca-Cola, American Express, and KFC.

“We’re delighted to have Kelly and Thiago join us. We took our time to get this right and they are both good people, with great pedigrees,” said St. John Walshe, CEO of the Americas for BBDO.

The duo will partner closely with an existing cross-functional team, working across BBDO San Francisco’s top clients including Facebook’s WhatsApp, MegaMex Food, ServiceNow, and Wells Fargo, while also collaborating to win new business opportunities.

“I am thrilled to be joining BBDO SF as CEO. I share the agency’s singular focus on ‘The Work. The Work. The Work.’ and admire the Network’s longstanding creative reputation. I could not be more excited to build the next chapter in San Francisco alongside Thiago and the rest of the talented team,” said Johnson.

Cruz adds, “I’m excited to partner with Kelly and the team to bring some of the most cutting-edge brands to life in ways that are relevant, innovative and fulfill a meaningful role within culture. It’s what I love to do, and I can’t wait to bring my passion to the iconic BBDO Network.”

Johnson replaces longtime BBDO San Francisco CEO, Jim Lesser, who left the position at the end of last year to become a client of the agency, as SVP, Brand Marketing at enterprise software company, ServiceNow.

“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Jim as a friend and colleague for over 15 years. When he told me about the opportunity at ServiceNow, all I could do was wish him well. He has led BBDO San Francisco brilliantly and leaves a great legacy. While we’ll miss him, he’s not going too far away, and he couldn’t have done more to leave the office in great shape for his successor,” said St. John Walshe.

Thiago takes over creative reins from Matt Miller, who is being promoted to the role of Chief Creative Officer on AT&T, overseeing the client across Omnicom, leading teams in LA, Dallas and NY. “Matt is a star and we’ve been preparing for some time for his next move,” said Walshe. “He’s working closely with Thiago to ensure a seamless hand-off.”

Both leaders are in the process of transitioning over from their previous roles.

ABOUT BBDO
BBDO’s mantra is “The Work. The Work. The Work.” Every day, BBDO people in 289 offices in 81 countries work day by day, job by job and client by client to create and deliver the world’s most compelling commercial content. BBDO is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company.

SOURCE BBDO

BERA Brand Equity and Purpose Scores Will Be Integrated into Omni Data Platform

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BERA, the only predictive brand tech platform, today announced an agreement with Omnicom Media Group to incorporate BERA’s automated metrics and predictive analytics into Omnicom’s Omni marketing operating system.

“At a time when brand reputation and values are playing an increasingly important role in consumers’ purchase decisions, this insight can be the difference between reaching consumers and connecting with them.”Tweet this

BERA is the world’s largest brand equity relationship assessment platform, housing high quality brand-safe data in a SaaS environment. Incorporating its unique Brand Accelerator tool into Omni will enable Omnicom Media Group’s (OMG) teams to identify strengths and weaknesses of a brand’s purpose and brand equity by audience, geolocation, and time period. As a result, OMG agencies Hearts & Science, OMD and PHD will be able to help clients identify and activate audiences, as well as measure the impact of media plans, based on the relationships that consumers have with their brands, while also factoring in the Brand to Business™ impact – i.e., brand impact on sales and profitability.

Additionally, Omni users will also have access to BERA’s Data Portal, a proprietary data stream that will be used to evaluate the impact of brand on in-store and offline sales through evaluation of KPIs that can be used to measure price elasticity.

This agreement marks the first time that media agencies has been granted access to the BERA platform.

“Combining BERA’s visibility into brand relationships with the deep behavioral data from the Omni, we will be able to provide all our clients a holistic direction of media investment and strategies – one that will be able to factor in the role that ‘brand love’ has in driving business results,” says PHD Chief Analytics Officer Shaina Boone, who helped initiate discussions between the two organizations. “At a time when brand reputation and values are playing an increasingly important role in consumers’ purchase decisions, this insight can be the difference between reaching consumers and connecting with them.”

Ryan Barker, founder and chief executive officer of BERA, said, “This partnership validates the power of BERA’s predictive brand tech platform. And we can’t be more excited by the opportunity to help OMG deliver increased value to their clients with our unprecedented platform that combines leading-edge technology with always-on research, automatic analytics, and comprehensive visualization to help marketers and brand leaders diagnose, direct, and inspire their efforts.”

About BERA

BERA (Brand Equity Relationship Assessment) is the world’s first and only truly Predictive Brand Tech platform. BERA’s technology solves the number one issue in marketing and building brands: the inability to quantify and predict the impact of brand on current and long-term business value. BERA’s Brand to Business ™ SaaS solution takes the guessing-game out of brand-building so its customers can focus on the art of building loved brands and outsmarting their competition. Through an always-on syndicated survey of 4,000 of the most important brands in the world, covering over 200 sectors, BERA is the world’s largest on-going brand equity relationship SaaS platform in the market today.

For more information, visit www.bera.ai

About Omnicom Media Group

Omnicom Media Group (OMG) is the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company, providing services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Omnicom Media Group includes full service media agencies Hearts & Science, OMD and PHD; performance marketing agency Resolution; Optimum Sports Media and Marketing; and the Annalect data and analytics division that developed and manages the Omni marketing operating system underpinning all Omnicom agencies.

Media Contact: 
Joah Santos 
[email protected]

LONDON, March 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Credera, a consulting, digital transformation and engineering company, today announced its London-based technology consultancy, DMW Group, will rebrand as Credera. The change will go into effect on March 15, 2021, with all DMW Group naming and branding changing to Credera. This comes after Credera acquired a majority stake in DMW Group in July 2020 to expand its consulting and digital transformation capabilities into Europe. The current management team of the UK division of DMW Group, led by CEO Chris Dean, will continue in its current roles.

“I am excited to continue on this journey with our UK counterparts,” said Justin Bell, President and CEO of Credera. “DMW and Credera have been working together successfully for some time now. By combining as a single global entity, we believe we can better serve our clients, expand our reach and extend the services we offer.”

“Justin and I have a shared vision to build a global boutique in which our clients will continue to feel the benefits of working with a small firm—such as trust, agility, independence and access to senior people—with the added advantages that come with global scale,” said Dean. “Our people-first, client-centric culture is key to both organisations, and that won’t change as we grow. I’m delighted to say we have found our cultural counterpart in Credera. Although our name and our brand are changing, our values, core services and commitment to excellence will remain at the heart of everything we do.”

Credera is part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, the digital and customer relationship management specialist practice area within Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). 

Credera’s global headquarters are in Dallas, TX, with UK headquarters located in London. It has been honored by Fortune as a “Best Place to Work” in consulting and professional services. Its DMW Group has been recognised by Great Place to Work Institute as one of the best places to work in the UK for the past six consecutive years.

ABOUT CREDERA 
Credera is a consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, data, and technology. As a part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, our approximately 700 consultants across the globe partner with clients ranging from long-time market leaders to emerging companies from strategy to execution to create tangible business results. Credera’s deep business acumen and technical expertise, combined with an immense dedication to building trusted relationships, unlocks extraordinary business performance for our clients. Our mission is to make an extraordinary impact for our clients, people, and communities. Visit us at www.credera.com. 

ABOUT OMNICOM PRECISION MARKETING GROUP 
Omnicom Precision Marketing Group aligns Omnicom’s global digital, data and CRM capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale. Using its universal framework of connected data, connected intelligence and connected experiences, OPMG provides services that include data-driven product / service design, adTech / marTech strategy and implementation, CRM / loyalty strategy and activation, econometric and attribution modelling and digital experience design and development. At the core of delivering these services is Omni, an advanced technology platform that combines a powerful cultural insights engine with massively scaled data insights from first-, second- and third-party sources, including several proprietary Omnicom data partnerships.

ABOUT OMNICOM GROUP 
Omnicom Group (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 Omnicom Precision Marketing Group

NEW YORK, March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — TBWA\Worldwide has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021, marking the third year in a row TBWA has been named one of the top 10 most innovative companies in the Advertising category. This year, TBWA earned the #3 spot and is the top-ranked global advertising agency network.

The list honors the businesses that have not only found a way to be resilient in the past year, but also turned those challenges into impact-making processes, while making the most profound impact on both industry and culture as a whole. This year’s MIC list features businesses across a range of industries from 29 countries. 

“We’re thrilled to be recognized as one of Fast Company‘s Most Innovative Companies for the third consecutive year,” said Troy Ruhanen, CEO, TBWA\Worldwide. “We are especially pleased to see that the editors recognized our continued focus on innovation and disruptive creativity. To our talented people around the world who continued to innovate during a very challenging year and to our clients whose partnership made innovative ideas a reality, thank you.” 

“In a year of unprecedented challenges, the companies on this list exhibit fearlessness, ingenuity and creativity in the face of crisis,” said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with Senior Editor Amy Farley. 

Fast Company‘s editors and writers sought out groundbreaking businesses across the globe and industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process. 

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy. 

Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2020) is now available online here, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning March 16, 2021. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.

About TBWA\Worldwide
TBWA is The Disruption® Company: the cultural engine for 21st-century business. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and to the AdAge A-List, we create disruptive ideas that locate and involve brands in culture, giving them a larger share of the future. Our collective has 11,300 creative minds across 275 offices in 95 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 Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group.

About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

SOURCE TBWA\Worldwide

NEW YORK, March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BBDO has been named to Fast Company‘s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021, among the top 10 in the Advertising sector. The list honors the businesses that have not only found a way to be resilient in the past year, but also turned those challenges into impact-making processes. These companies did more than survive, they thrived— making an impact on their industries and culture as a whole. 

Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses across the globe. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

“BBDO flawlessly executed the brand-influencer partnership between Charli D’Amelio and Dunkin’, with three pumps of caramel to boot. These things may look easy to outsiders, but they’re not, and BBDO nailed what so many others unfortunately flub,” said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Litsky, who oversaw the issue with Senior Editor Amy Farley.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company‘s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy. 

“In a year of unprecedented challenges, the companies on this list exhibit fearlessness, ingenuity, and creativity in the face of crisis,” Lidsky added.

BBDO’s year of innovative achievement included launching some of the very first socially relevant, remotely produced work, like Jack Daniels’ community-building “With Love, Jack,” and Pedigree’s “Dogs on Zoom,” which created opportunities to adopt a furry best friend in times of social distancing. The Network also churned out innovative thinking on new platforms like TikTok with the above-mentioned Dunkin’ “Charli” campaign and pro-bono effort “The Help Locker,” a TikTok channel created with Street Grace to clarify misinformation on teen sex trafficking by reaching young people where they are. And, in London, BBDO broke down barriers with Essity Libresse/Bodyform’s taboo-busting “#wombstories,” telling the raw, untold, and often unknown stories of women’s experiences with their wombs.

“We love being named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list for the fourth time in a row, because I believe the hardest thing to do—for anyone, in any field—is to ‘bring it’ every year. Excellence over time is difficult to achieve, especially during these challenging times. But creative excellence is what we do, and we’ll continue to help our clients solve problems in new and interesting ways, no matter how big or unexpected,” said BBDO Worldwide Chief Creative Officer, David Lubars.

To coincide with the issue launch, Fast Company will host its first-ever Most Innovative Companies Summit on March 9 and 10. This virtual, multiday summit will celebrate the Most Innovative Companies in business, provide an early look at major business trends, and offer the inspiration and practical insights on what it takes to innovate in 2021.  

Fast Company‘s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2021) is now available online here, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning March 16, 2021. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative. 

ABOUT BBDO
BBDO’s mantra is “The Work. The Work. The Work.”  Every day, BBDO people in 289 offices in 81 countries work day by day, job by job and client by client to create and deliver the world’s most compelling commercial content.  BBDO is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

SOURCE BBDO