Ian MacKellar Joins Ogilvy Toronto as Chief Creative Officer

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Highly awarded creative director Ian MacKellar is joining Ogilvy & Mather Toronto as its Chief Creative Officer, taking over the agency's creative leadership from Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk who are leaving to create SWIM – a new creative leadership training initiative that Ogilvy North America has signed on to as its flagship client.

"It is no small task to replace a legend, let alone two of them, but with Ian MacKellar we have a creative visionary who has excited the creative community around the world with work that has won countless awards and succeeded in the marketplace," said Dennis Stief, Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy & Mather Toronto. "We are equally excited by Janet and Nancy's new venture and the contributions they will continue to make to Ogilvy."

A winner of a "Grand Fabulous Award" as well as Gold Cannes Lions and Clios, MacKellar is a 20-year veteran of the Canadian advertising scene.  He is responsible for some of the most highly awarded and innovative work during his tenure at BBDO Toronto and for developing and inspiring the teams that work with him. He was most recently Executive Creative Director at Canada's independent Bensimon Byrne.

"Ian is a craftsman whose work I greatly admire, in particular the phenomenon he created for Tropicana's Arctic Sun, among many others," said Steve Simpson, Chief Creative Officer for Ogilvy & Mather North America.  "He will be a terrific leader for Ogilvy in Toronto."

On joining Ogilvy Toronto, Ian MacKellar said, "It is indeed humbling and an honour to succeed both Janet and Nancy as CCO in Toronto.  The office has an enviable reputation; a reputation which I plan on building on further, moving forward."

In commenting on Swim, Mr. Simpson said, "Janet and Nancy are known in the industry not only for their celebrated works, but also for their mentoring skills and through their book Pick Me and Ask Jancy advice column. Swim is yet another innovation from them and it meets a need for creative career guidance.  I am excited to continue to work with them through their new independent capacity – helping our most promising creative talent develop the skills to succeed in a business undergoing rapid change."

About Ogilvy & Mather:

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world. Through its specialty units, the company provides a comprehensive range of marketing services including: advertising; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; shopper and retail marketing; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing. Ogilvy & Mather services Fortune Global 500 companies as well as local businesses through its network of more than 450 offices in 120 countries. It is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY).  For more information, visit www.ogilvy.com.

SOURCE Ogilvy & Mather