Amir Kassaei, DDB's Global Chief Creative Officer, Settles in the Middle Kingdom

NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB Worldwide has announced that Amir Kassaei, Chief Creative Officer, will be establishing DDB's global creative centre in Shanghai. A move reinforcing DDB's ongoing commitment and investment into the Asian region, it is believed to be the first time a global, Madison Avenue agency has moved its creative headquarters to China. 

This move complements John Zeigler's, Chairman & CEO of DDB Group Asia Pacific, India & Japan, re-location to Singapore in December, 2011. Patrick Rona, former President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for Tribal DDB Worldwide and Chief Digital Officer for DDB Group EMEA, now Tribal DDB Asia Pacific's new President and Chief Digital Officer for DDB Group Asia Pacific, also moved to Singapore in January of this year.

John Zeigler, said, "We're very honoured to have our global creative centre in Asia. World-class brands are moving here and they deserve world-class creative they have become accustomed to. Amir, with our top creative talent across the region, will deliver just this. I'm sure of it."

"DDB Group Asia Pacific now has three core regional hubs – Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Amir's move makes China the centre piece for our global creative work."

Chuck Brymer, CEO, DDB Worldwide, said, "This is one of the most significant moves we have made in the history of DDB. The world as we know it is changing and our industry's growth market is now without doubt the Asian region. Move over New York, London, Paris. Hello Shanghai, Mumbai, Singapore. With this in mind, there's no time better to set up our creative powerhouse in China."

Appointed DDB Worldwide Chief Creative Officer in February 2011, Amir is one of the most lauded creatives in the world. Amir and his teams are the recipients of more than 2,000 national and international awards, including 40 Cannes Lions in the past five years. Amir was named The Big Won Report's 'Top Chief Creative Officer' in 2009, and has been selected as The Big Won's 'Top 3 Chief Creative Officers' for each of the last three years.

In 2003, Amir joined DDB as Chief Creative Officer and Associate Partner of DDB Germany, where he quickly helped reshape the agency. As the youngest DDB Chief Creative Officer in Europe, he quickly transformed it into one of the most creative and successful agencies in Germany. Under Amir's leadership, DDB Germany has also been ranked as the most awarded German agency in the Gunn Report. During his tenure at DDB Germany, Amir founded and established Tribal DDB Germany as a modern, multichannel agency. He is currently based in New York, and his move to Shanghai is imminent.

Amir has worked on an impressive range of the world's major brands, including Allianz, Apple, Adidas, Bosch, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nike, Reebok and Volkswagen.

Amir likes to say "Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion." He firmly believes that if one has passion, will and courage, one can change the world for the better. Of our business, he says, "It has never been just about advertising. Our business is marketing products, companies and relevant services – and one of our vehicles is advertising."

Born in Iran, raised in Austria, and educated in France, Amir settled in Germany in 1997, gaining experience early in his career in a variety of roles ranging from Account Manager to Strategic Planner to Art Director and Designer at agencies such as TBWA, Barci & Partner and Springer & Jacoby. At Springer & Jacoby, Amir advanced from Copywriter to Creative Director and finally to Executive Creative Director on the global Mercedes-Benz and smart accounts.

DDB Group Asia Pacific is a cohesive collaboration of global businesses, including the world's most awarded advertising agency, DDB. The world's leading digital agency, Tribal DDB. The global leader in data-driven marketing and analytics, RAPP, and DDB Health, a specialist agency dedicated to servicing the healthcare and medical field. Group capabilities also include design, sales promotion and public relations orientated agencies in specific countries. It is comprised of 21 offices in 14 countries across the region and is part of the DDB Worldwide communications network.

DDB has always believed that 'creativity is the most powerful force in business'. Today, we use that creativity to develop ideas that people want to play with, participate in, and pass on. We call this social creativity.

DDB Group Asia Pacific is a cohesive collaboration of global businesses, including the world's most awarded advertising agency, Campaign Asia Pacific Creative Network Agency of the Year, Spike Asia Network of the of the Year 2010 and 2011, and AdFest Network of the Year -  DDB; the world's leading digital agency and Campaign Asia Pacific's Digital Agency of the Year for 2009 & 2010, Tribal DDB; the global leader in data-driven marketing and analytics, RAPP; and DDB Health, a specialist agency dedicated to servicing the healthcare and medical field. Group capabilities also include design, sales promotion and public relations orientated agencies in specific countries. It is comprised of 21 offices in 14 countries across the region and is part of the DDB Worldwide communications network.

SOURCE DDB Worldwide