DDB New York, part of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), has made three key hires, bringing Lance Parrish aboard as executive creative director, and Katie Jensen and Ani Munoz as group creative directors. All three will report to Lisa Topol and Derek Barnes, co-chief creative officers of DDB NY, and will lead creative across DDB’s portfolio of clients. As the first batch of new hires for Topol and Barnes since the pair joined the agency in March, the move signifies a new era of creative leadership for DDB NY.
Parrish joins DDB as executive creative director after seven years at Grey, where he was previously group creative director. While at Grey, Parrish helped pitch and win Gillette’s global business, in addition to Bose, Advil, and Applebee’s. His work has appeared in the Super Bowl five times and been awarded by the industry’s top shows including Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clios, Art Directors Club, London International and Effies.
Jensen and Munoz also join DDB from Grey NY where they worked for three years together across brands such as Best Buy, Downy, Pringles and Marriott. With over 10 years in advertising, Jensen and Munoz previously worked at a number of agencies, including Saatchi & Saatchi, ChiatDay NY, Y&R and Ogilvy & Mather. Their work has been recognized at top industry shows like Cannes, One Show and the Effie Awards, and their Best Buy fare was the best-performing campaign in the brand’s history.
DDB NY co-CCOs Topol and Barnes now reunite with Parrish, Jensen and Munoz. Prior to joining DDB, Topol and Barnes were with Grey for a four-year stretch.
“Having worked with Lance, Katie, and Ani in the past, we’re incredibly excited for the creative energy they’re bringing to DDB,” said Topol. Barnes added, “All three of these outstanding creatives have the kind of fresh ideas we know will usher in a new age for this department and which will take the agency’s reputation to new heights.”
Parrish related, “I’m excited to be on Lisa and Derek’s team again. We’ve done some great work together, and we had a good time doing it. I’m looking forward to partnering with them to build the department’s vision and to deliver a new level of creative excellence in our work for our clients.”
Parrish, Jensen, and Munoz’s arrivals build on DDB/NY’s growing momentum, following the appointment of leaders like Susie Lyons to head of strategy and recent new business wins for brands like Juvéderm and Botox.
