Troy Ruhanen has been appointed president and CEO of TBWA Worldwide, succeeding Tom Carroll who will continue as chairman of TBWA Group. Jean-Marie Dru will keep on serving as chairman, TBWA Agency Network.
Ruhanen joins TBWA from parent company, Omnicom Group, where he was responsible for driving cross-agency collaboration for Omnicom’s largest clients. Prior to this, Ruhanen held multiple senior management positions at Omnicom Group agencies, including Chairman and CEO, the Americas, BBDO Worldwide. In that role, he managed BBDO’s operations in North and South America including the Proximity direct, digital and CRM agency network. Previous posts at BBDO include deputy chairman, North America and managing director, New York.
Omnicom Group president and CEO John Wren said, “At Omnicom, we place considerable emphasis on succession planning, and Tom [Carroll] and I have long agreed that Troy Ruhanen would be the right person to take the helm of TBWA. His experience in leading Omnicom agencies across geographies and categories makes this a seamless leadership transition.”
Carroll commented, “Troy and I have worked closely across a number of initiatives this past year and he’s the perfect person to take us to the next level.”
“The opportunity to lead TBWA is a great honor because of the deep rooted creative culture and its unique strategic method in ‘Disruption.’ The willingness to break from convention and the expectation for fresh thinking creates an environment for bolder and more innovative platforms,” stated Ruhanen. “This attracts talent, unlike others, and produces work that creates a competitive advantage.”
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More