Omnicom Group has announced the promotion of Wendy Clark as president and ceo of DDB Worldwide. She succeeds Chuck Brymer who will assume the title of chairman. Both roles are effective immediately.
“After 12 terrific years as the head of DDB, I am excited to hand the baton to Wendy,” said Brymer.
“She is passionate about our business and clients, and has proven to be an inspiring leader for our company. I look forward to helping Wendy continue to foster an environment where our people can do their best work.
“Under Wendy’s leadership as ceo of DDB North America, the agency has grown by enhancing existing relationships such as State Farm, Mars, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as a strong new business track record. Most notably, she was instrumental in winning the consolidated US creative account for McDonald’s in 2016 that led to the formation of a dedicated agency unit, We Are Unlimited.”
In addition to leading her 2000-plus team across 17 offices, Clark has pushed gender and diversity boundaries with the introduction of initiatives such as Talent Has No Gender and unconscious bias training.
“In addition to leading her 2000-plus team across 17 offices, Wendy Clark has pushed gender and diversity boundaries.”
In 2017, Ad Age named Clark Executive of the Year based on her professional success over a 12-month period.
Clark said, “I’ve loved every minute of the last two years with our DDB North America team and clients creating the resurgence of this majestic, important agency. To now have the opportunity to follow Chuck’s legacy of leadership and work with our global teams and clients is both humbling and exciting.”
Brymer’s role expands
In his new role of chairman, Brymer will continue to serve the company while taking on added responsibilities within Omnicom.
John Wren, president and ceo of Omnicom, said: “During his tenure as ceo of DDB, Chuck has successfully grown DDB as not only one of the most creative agencies in the advertising industry but also a leading network for CRM, retail activation, branding, and digital services around the globe.
“At Omnicom, we recognise the importance of succession planning, and Chuck and I knew that Wendy would be the right person to take the helm of DDB. Her experience leading DDB North America coupled with her expertise as a leading marketer makes this a seamless leadership transition that will build upon DDB’s capabilities and reputation as a leader in the business.”
Clark joined the agency in 2016, from Coca-Cola North America, where she was president, sparkling brands & strategic marketing. Before joining Coca-Cola in 2008, she was senior vice president, advertising for AT&T.
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