Johannes Leonardo appoints ex-W+K exec Helen Andrews as its CEO

Johannes Leonardo has appointed a former longtime Wieden+Kennedy exec as its new CEO. Helen Andrews is taking over for Emily Wilcox, who was recently named CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York. Read about Ad Age’s 2024 Leading Women here Andrews spent over 13 years at Wieden+Kennedy London, most recently as a managing director, and also served on W+K’s global leadership council. She recently served as the CEO of Adam&EveDDB for six months, leaving because it wasn’t the “right fit” for her. “I learned a lot during the six months I was there,” Andrews said. “I’m glad because it really clarified what it was that I wanted for my next role and that was … getting back to an independent agency, where I can shape the next chapter of growth.” Johannes Leonardo, a 200-person independent agency, has experienced significant changes over the past couple of years. Wilcox, who spent eight years with the agency, left in March having served as Johannes Leonardo’s CEO for nearly a year. The agency’s former partner and president Bryan Yasko and former chief creative officer Julia Neumann departed last year. The shop has since appointed Dan Ng as chief strategy officer; Paula Daily as CFO and COO; Tasha Cronin as head of production; and John McCarthy as its first chief marketing officer. A new president wasn’t named but Andrews is expected to handle those responsibilities. The shop said it does not have any plans to name a new chief creative officer. Andrews will be moving from Europe to New York where Johannes Leonardo is based. As for what’s next for the shop, “We have big ambitions to expand the categories that we work in and then also potentially new geographies,” said co-Founder Leo Premutico said. “We’re a U.S.-based agency but we're fortunate enough to work with global brands. So who’s to say that we won't at some point think about expanding our footprint.” Andrews’s global experience—she has spent her career in Europe—is expected to benefit the agency when it does look to expand, Premutico and other co-Founder Jan Jacobs said. In her career, Andrews has worked with clients including British Airways, Nike, Heinz, Coca-Cola, TJX, Visa, Honda and Formula 1. Ad Age Leading Women Luncheon Join us Aug. 7 in New York as we recognize this year’s honorees Buy your ticket today Johannes Leonardo’s revenue grew by 24% last year, largely due to organic growth from existing clients, said. The agency’s biggest clients include Adidas, Instagram, Uber, Kraft Heinz and Volkswagen. The agency’s been “very much focusing around long-term relationships with brands because what we’ve seen is that creativity can only really be impactful when your one-off stunts work in tandem with a longer-term brand platform that you continue to invest in,” Premutico said. Added Andrews: “There’s a real opportunity for independent agencies like Johannes Leonardo to take a disproportionate piece of the pie. I’m just hugely excited to be part of an organization that has 16 years worth of brilliant work under its belt, but still some room to grow.”

Johannes Leonardo names new CEO—former longtime W+K exec joins independent

Featured Stories