DDB Chicago a part of North American Leadership restructure

DDB

DDB is implementing a major strategic transformation, bringing together three of its most distinguished agencies—DDB Chicago, Alma, and Adam&eveDDB—under one consolidated leadership team in North America. This restructuring aims to enhance collaboration, drive creativity, and better align with the evolving needs of marketers.

New Leadership Team

A powerhouse leadership team will spearhead this transformation:

  • Caroline Winterton – CEO, DDB North America
  • Isaac Mizrahi – Chief Operating Officer
  • Micheline Lewis – Chief People Officer
  • Justin Gee – Chief Financial Officer
  • Laura Cona – Chief Growth and Marketing Officer

Alex Lubar, Global CEO of DDB Worldwide, emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “With this incredible leadership team in place, we are excited about the future of DDB North America. Our unified approach will allow us to build on our creative momentum and continue driving results for our clients, while unlocking new growth opportunities for our teams.”

Structural Changes and Leadership Appointments

Caroline Winterton, formerly U.S. CEO of Adam&eveDDB, takes on the role of CEO of DDB North America, a position left vacant since Justin Thomas-Copeland’s departure in 2023. She will oversee both Adam&eveDDB and DDB Chicago. A search is currently underway for a Managing Director for DDB Chicago, who will collaborate with Winterton and other regional leaders across New York, San Francisco, and Miami.

Isaac Mizrahi, CEO of Alma, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of DDB North America while continuing to lead Alma, which specializes in Hispanic and multicultural marketing. Alma is also in the process of appointing a new Managing Director.

Laura Cona joins as Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, a newly created role. Previously, she led growth in North America for WPP’s VML.

Justin Gee (CFO) and Micheline Lewis (CPO) will continue overseeing financial and people operations across North America.

DDB’s global leadership team will also support the new structure, including Chaka Sobhani, President & Chief Creative Officer, and Tomas Gonsorcik, Chief Strategy Officer.

Why Now?

The restructuring comes at a pivotal time for DDB as it looks to streamline operations and drive stronger creative output across North America. While this transformation is independent of Omnicom’s pending acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG), which is set to close in the second half of 2025, it positions DDB to be more agile in an evolving industry landscape.

As DDB Chicago enters this new chapter, the agency is poised to enhance its creative legacy and deliver even more impactful work for clients across North America.


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