DDB Worldwide has hired Leo Burnett’s Global Chief Creative Officer Chaka Sobhani as its president and international chief creative officer.
Agency News
DDB hires Leo Burnett’s Chaka Sobhani as president and international chief creative officer
Leo Burnett chief creative officer was behind ‘The Lost Class’ for Change the Ref and McDonald’s ‘Raise your Arches’
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DDB Worldwide President and International Chief Creative Officer Chaka Sobhani
Credit:
DDB
Sobhani is taking on the role effective in early 2024. Her appointment comes two weeks after Ari Weiss, the Omnicom agency’s global chief creative officer, said that he was departing to launch his own agency.
Sobhani will report to DDB Worldwide Global CEO Alex Lubar, who has been in his role since October and called Sobhani a “true leader.”
“Her energy is infectious, her drive is relentless, and her dedication to delivering outstanding creative products for her clients is unquestionable,” Lubar said in a statement. “She is the type of leader that makes you want to be, make, and do everything better.”
Sobhani will be based out of DDB’s European headquarters in London and will work closely with Rick Brim, the global chief creative officer of Adam&EveDDB.
Sobhani took on her global role at Publicis Groupe’s Leo Burnett in 2021. Prior to that she served as the chief creative officer of Leo Burnett London and is credited with leading the agency’s work on campaigns such as “Raise your Arches” for McDonald’s and “The Lost Class” for gun safety advocacy group Change the Ref.
“We wish Chaka all the very best in her new role and thank her for her contribution to Leo London’s success,” said Charlie Rudd, group CEO for Leo Burnett UK and Publicis Poke, in a statement. “We are fortunate to have great strength in depth in our creative department and will be announcing our plans very shortly.”
In the wake of Sobhani’s news, Leo Burnett U.K. said Wednesday it was promoting Mark Elwood to chief creative officer, effective immediately.
Prior to her time at Burnett, Sobhani worked at Mother. Before that, she worked in the TV industry, where she set up the first in-house agency at broadcaster ITV.
This is the latest in a string of changes in the creative suite within DDB. Along with Weiss’ recent departure, DDB Chicago Chief Creative Officer Rodrigo Jatene left the agency earlier this month.
In May, DDB merged Adam&EveNYC and DDB New York.
