DDB Chicago Announces New CEO

CHICAGO, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB Worldwide announced today that it has hired Peter McGuinness as DDB Chicago's new President & CEO. McGuinness joins DDB after 20 years with Interpublic Group, most recently as Chairman & CEO of Gotham, where he evolved and transformed the agency into Advertising Age's #1 Agency to Watch in 2010 and its #1 Agency A-List Standout in 2011.

"Peter is exactly the type of leader that we look for at DDB," said Mark O'Brien, President of DDB North of America.  "Like us, he places a premium on talent, leading with insights into people that help foster the work created around him. He has a keen sense for how to effectively attack challenges, a proven track record of helping to cultivate great ideas and great idea makers, and we believe he'll be a perfect fit."

"DDB has a long history of influence and creativity in our industry," said McGuinness. "As steeped as it is in heritage, it is equally steeped in future potential – and that's what I am most looking forward to having some fun with. Plus, Chicago is where I was born so it's a bit of a homecoming, and it's at the heart of DDB.  I can't wait to bring some heat to the windy city."

Before joining Gotham as CEO in 2008, McGuinness spent a good chunk of his career running high-profile client business within the Interpublic Group. Before he turned 30, he was named McCann Worldgroup's Executive Vice President and Worldwide Account Director, a role in which he helped transform the MasterCard "Priceless" campaign into a global phenomenon in over 100 countries in 45 languages, and subsequently led 20 integrated brands for Unilever in 90 countries. At 35, McGuinness was named Regional Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa for IPG's Momentum agency, and by 2009 he had been inducted into the prestigious AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement.

"DDB Chicago has always been a key office for us, and together, Ewan and Peter make a truly awesome team," said Chuck Brymer, President and CEO of DDB Worldwide. "I'm thrilled to have Peter join us and am looking forward to his contributions to the agency and to the network."

McGuinness will work hand-in-hand with DDB Chicago's Chief Creative Officer, Ewan Paterson, who joined the agency in June 2010 from CHI in London.  Together, they will look to further evolve and expand DDB's capabilities and to continue to recruit top talent from the U.S. and abroad. Since joining DDB last year, Paterson has brought on-board significant high-profile digital and creative talent and helped lead the agency to win key new business from State Farm, Pepsi's Sierra Mist, and several Mars Chocolate and Wrigley brands, including Starburst, Skittles, Milky Way, Combos and Balisto.

"Ewan is an unbelievably talented guy with loads of energy, optimism and creativity," added McGuinness. "Together I know we'll succeed in adding even more depth and dimension to DDB Chicago's offering."

About DDB  

DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc (www.ddb.com) ranks among the top five consolidated advertising and marketing services global networks, according to Advertising Age. Consistently one of the world's most awarded networks for creative excellence, DDB was Campaign's 2009 Global Network of the Year, the 2010 Spikes Asia Network of the Year, Eurobest Network of the Year, Campaign Asia-Pacific Creative Network of the Year, and captured both the Cyber Grand Prix and Film Craft Grand Prix at the 2010 International Advertising Festival in Cannes. With more than 200 offices in over 90 countries, the DDB Group helps grow the value and influence of leading brands around the world. We believe that creativity is the most powerful force in business, allowing us to develop ideas that people want to play with, participate in and pass along. We call this Social Creativity. DDB Worldwide is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC).

SOURCE DDB Worldwide