DDB Replaces Eric Silver as Chief Creative Officer of New York Office

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Eric Silver is being replaced in his post as chief creative officer of DDB, New York, a little over a year after he jumped into the role to replace the office's longtime creative leader, Lee Garfinkel. The Omnicom Group agency has appointed Matt Eastwood, chief creative officer of DDB, Australia, to take over Mr. Silver's duties, while Mr. Silver is moved elsewhere within the network.

"Eric will be taking on creative responsibilities for DDB's business development efforts in the U.S., working with U.S. Director of New Business Development Brandon Snow," DDB North America President Dick Rogers said in a statement.

Mr. Silver joined DDB following a five-year run at Omnicom sibling BBDO, New York, where he served as executive creative director under BBDO's top creative, David Lubars.

Being shifted into a new-business capacity is an unexpected -- and, according to industry executives, probably temporary -- move for Mr. Silver, a one-time writer for David Letterman, who cut his teeth at places like Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Wieden & Kennedy and Cliff Freeman & Partners, picking up awards along the way for his brand of slapstick TV work. He headed to BBDO in 2003, at the time stepping into Gerry Graf's shoes when Mr. Graf moved to helm TBWA/Chiat/Day. At BBDO Mr. Silver was best known for his work on the FedEx and Monster.com accounts.

In his time at DDB, though, there's been little in the way of such high-profile campaigns. The move means more creative changes for DDB's U.S. operations, which finally managed to install a chief creative officer in Chicago after a two-year search for a successor to the late Paul Tilley.

Mr. Eastwood, who has done work for Unilever, McDonald's and Volkswagen, will move over to DDB, New York, at the end of the summer, and a search for his replacement in Australia is under way. "Matt has played a central role in some of the most-awarded and innovative creative work in our industry," Peter Hempel, president-CEO of DDB, New York, said in a statement. "He is both an experienced and accomplished creative leader. His vision and deep digital expertise have helped many brands grow in tough circumstances by using creative ideas and media in remarkable new ways. After searching both within DDB and across the industry, I found there to be no better fit for this office."

Said Mr. Eastwood in a statement: "When I met with some of the leaders in New York, I was impressed by how culturally similar we all actually are, and I'm gratified that they seem as eager as I am to start working together."