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Top Hires of the Week

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TBWA\Chiat\Day New York

TBWA\Chiat\Day New York has found its new CEO in the form of Rob Schwartz, who move into the (newly created) position from his previous role as global creative president for TBWA Worldwide. He will take charge of all operation for the New York office, which is one of the flagship offices of the TBWA Worldwide network. In his 16 years at TBWA, Schwartz has led accounts for clients such as Nissan, McDonald’s, GSK, PepsiCo and Johnson & Johnson. He played a crucial role in establishing the multi-discipline cross-Omnicom group, Nissan United.

TBWA\Chiat\Day New York has found its new CEO in the form of Rob Schwartz

Troy Ruhanen, president and CEO of TBWA Worldwide, said that during his tenure at TBWA, Schwartz has “Built tremendous trust both at the client level and internally because he listens, acts and most importantly, doesn't wait to be asked.” He added that Schwartz “Doesn't rely on relationships; he builds them through his energy and dedication to the clients, the culture, the people and the product.” Which is why he feels “Schwartz is the right leader for New York.” Schwartz, who will be taking over from Robert Harwood-Matthews, said “Leading one of the network’s key offices and working on one of the biggest global accounts,” has prepared him well in his mission to “Create an office that is a truly global client hub and cornerstone of the TBWA network.” He's also excited to return to his home town for this next chapter in his TBWA career.

 

Ogilvy & Mather

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Heather Alderson has been appointed to the new role of head of planning for Unilever Worldwide and Ogilvy & Mather UK. She'll join Ogilvy this month, reporting to Unilever worldwide managing director Sophie Hoffstetter and Ogilvy & Mather UK CEO Annette King. She'll be heading up planning for Unilever, setting standards and providing “Thought leadership” across Unilever's Ogilvy portfolio, with an emphasis on the Dove soap and skincare brand. She'll be based in London, the global hub for most Unilever brands, and will be partnering with the group leadership team, operating company CEO's, and heads of strategy and planning to help keep Ogilvy's strategic capabilities in check. She joins Ogilvy after a stint as commercial strategy director at BBH.

Heather Alderson has been appointed to the newly created role of head of planning for Unilever Worldwide and Ogilvy & Mather UK

Alderson said that joining Ogilvy offers her “A tremendous opportunity to make a positive difference at scale” for one of the agency's biggest brands, a brand she has “Hitherto admired from afar.” At a group level, she believes “Ogilvy has a future-facing infrastructure in place,” and that “Now is the time to galvanise the potential of the Group's specialist planning talent into a powerful combined force. A big team that can make a big difference.” Hoffstetter calls Alderson “A world-class planner with fantastic credentials in building big brands through iconic work,” whilst King says she has “The right balance of fresh thinking, curiosity and strategic rigour” required for heading up the agency's biggest account.

 

AKQA

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Dan Pankraz has been named as strategic client partner of the Nike Europe account for AKQA. The Australian, who specialises in marketing to millenials, leaves his post as head of strategy at Iris Worldwide to join the digital powerhouse. Pankraz, who has also previously worked as head of digital and brand strategy at M&C Saatchi, and at agencies including DDB Sydney, Clemenger BBDO Sydney, BBH New York, Naked Communications, Euro RSCG New York and Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, will move from his Sydney home to London for the appointment. His duties will include leading digital and social innovation across Europe for Nike, which also involves services and products like Nike+, the brand's popular digital activity tracker. During his time at Iris, Pankraz picked up a bronze Effie award for the Christchurch Reimagined campaign, and picked up a Gold and Silver Effie for the McDonald's McHappy Day campaign at DDB Sydney.

 

Commonwealth//McCann

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Commonwealth//McCann, a division of McCann Worldgroup, has announced that Jonathan Disegi will be taking the role of executive VP, global director of strategy and research for the agency's General Motors Chevrolet account. Disegi, who joins the agency from JWT New York, where he served as global planning director, has more than 17 years of experience in brand strategy, having also held senior positions at agencies such as Lowe New York and Publicis. Disegi's strategic initiatives have been recognised with a Silver Effie for SAAB's "Born from Jets" campaign and a Gold Effie for the launch of the Microsoft Bing "Decision Engine" campaign, and his strategic leadership has also helped the agencies he has worked for win new business across a wide range of marketers.

Commonwealth//McCann has announced that Jonathan Disegi will be taking the role of executive VP, global director of strategy and research for the GM Chevrolet account

Suzanne Powers, global chief strategy officer for McCann Worldgroup, said they are “Thrilled to welcome Jonathan to the team, and are excited by his ability to pull people, ideas, insights and creativity together across markets, disciplines and platforms for such an important brand as Chevrolet.” Bill Kolb, chairman and CEO of Commonwealth//McCann, adds that as the agency “Continues to focus on propelling the Chevrolet brand forward,” Disegi's appointment strengthens the team's “Ability and commitment to helping them achieve their goals as a top global brand.”

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Iris Coldibelli (right) and Charlie Quirk (left)

Commonwealth//McCann has also appointed Iris Coldibelli and Charlie Quirk as global strategy directors, both of whom will be reporting to Disegi. Coldibelli joins the agency from McCann in Brazil, where she worked extensively on the Chevrolet account, whilst Quirk joins from POSSIBLE in Seattle, where he worked as Associate Director of Strategy and Planning on the Microsoft and AT&T accounts. Kolb said he is confident that the trios “Impressive creative drive and vast collective experience,” will offer the account a “Multitude of brand solutions and help establish and reinforce consistent branding” across the global network.

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