Global advertising agency Y&R has named Yusuf Chuku to serve as the chief strategy officer of North America. He will serve as North American CCO Leslie Sim’s strategic partner.
In this role, he will oversee strategy for the agency’s North America client roster, including clients such as ANA, Bel Brands USA, Dell, Pepperidge Farm, and Xerox, as well as the Census and U.S. Navy accounts. Y&R has long invested deeply in strategic capabilities that inform the creative process, and Chuku will continue to advance programs like eXploring, which is a proprietary approach to insights through cultural immersion.
Chuku brings extensive experience leading strategy departments, holding previous positions as EVP, head of planning at McCann New York, chief strategy officer at Cheil New York, head of strategic services at McKinney New York, and global planning director at JWT New York. He has worked both in the UK and the US markets. Chuku has a broad base of knowledge across a range of industries, having spearheaded global and regional clients such as A&E Networks, Pepsi-Co, Verizon, Samsung, Microsoft Office and Kimberly Clark.
“Yusuf is brilliant. He has an exceptional strategic pedigree in driving client business growth,” said Sims. “His strategic firepower will continue to amplify our creative, and his leadership will be instrumental in shaping the agency to meet clients’ changing challenges and priorities.”
“Coming to Y&R to lead strategy in North America was a compelling proposition,” said Chuku. “Y&R has always sat at the intersection of intelligence and creativity. Today that position, combined with a collaborative spirit, allows them to create work that transcends traditional marketing swim lanes.”
Chuku has also held positions at Manning Gottlieb and Naked Communications. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Manchester.
The appointment comes on the heels of key new business wins for Y&R, most recently Office Depot Office Max.
