Global creative agency DAVID has hired Daniel Lobatón as its first chief creative officer of North America, overseeing North American offices, DAVID Miami and DAVID New York. Lobatón will step into the newly created position to oversee creative operations, ensuring both offices continue to deliver business-driving ideas and usher in new creative opportunities and growth for the agency in North America. He will work from the DAVID New York office and report to global chief creative officer Pancho Cassis and co-founder and chairman Fernando Musa.
Musa said of Lobatón, “His experience in the market and extraordinary track record will elevate our work and reinforce our belief that creativity is the lifeblood of our clients’ businesses. As the market undergoes significant changes, his leadership will be instrumental in navigating these shifts and driving innovation to our clients.”
Lobatón arrives at DAVID after a two-year stint as Rethink New York’s chief creative officer, where he led its move from Canada to the U.S., helping the agency obtain the coveted Independent Network of the Year at Cannes Lions, with multiple wins for Kraft-Heinz as well as new clients such as Uber Eats and Epidemic Sound, amongst others. A well-established creative leader, Lobatón previously served as CCO and co-president of Saatchi & Saatchi New York, leading a five-year streak of growth and wins with P&G’s Tide brand. Before that, he worked in VML in Kansas City, LatinWorks in Austin, Texas and Y&R in his hometown Lima, Perú. He has received hundreds of accolades from Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Clio Awards, and an Emmy nomination for his “It’s a Tide Ad.”
Cassis said, “Daniel is one of the most relevant creative leaders in the U.S., and his addition to DAVID marks an exciting new chapter for us. His creative vision and business accomplishments with big American clients are exactly what we need to drive our growth even further in the market. With Daniel on board, DAVID continues to bet on the power of diversity to deliver memorable and impactful work that builds brands into pop culture and helps us be one of the most diverse, creative, and effective agencies in North America.”
This appointment marks a new phase of growth for DAVID in North America. With only two years in business, the agency’s New York office has established itself as a competitive newcomer in the U.S. market, having achieved unprecedented growth and several top industry honors for delivering ground-breaking work for global brands, including Clif Bar (Mondelez), Clash of Clans (Supercell), AB InBev, and Burger King global. At the same time, DAVID Miami continues to prove itself as a leading creative shop, delivering effective, award-winning work for clients such as Google Android, Netflix, Pennington, AB InBev, and new projects for Coca-Cola, among others. DAVID New York and DAVID Miami will continue to be led by the local chief creative officers André Toledo and Edgard Gianesi, respectively.
Lobatón said, “DAVID has a tremendous legacy of breakthrough creativity that moves business for iconic brands. In a way, most of the work we celebrate today was built from the DAVID blueprint. Pancho, Musa, and I have been talking about this possibility for years, and this seems like the perfect moment. The DAVID New York and DAVID Miami teams are made up of some of the most talented people in the industry, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Lobatón will divide his time between Miami and New York but will be based in the agency’s newly opened office in the iconic Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Refinery at Domino is a 19th-century factory renovated as a breathtaking office space while maintaining its status as an icon of the Brooklyn waterfront. The physical space will enable strong human connections within the DAVID team and with current and potential clients and serve as a place for the DAVID team to be inspired and engaged.
DAVID, which is a part of WPP and Ogilvy’s global creative network, now has six offices worldwide: New York, Miami, Madrid, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Bogota.
