Sandra Alfaro takes on president role at the agency
DDB North America announced today the restructure and elevation of three of its key leaders within DDB Chicago, positioned to continue building on the agency’s success.
Sandra Alfaro, previously head of business leadership, will be promoted to the role of president, DDB Chicago, effective immediately. Alfaro will team alongside chief creative officer Rodrigo Jatene and chief strategy officer Milo Chao. The three have been instrumental in revitalizing and continuing to grow the agency, pushing the product beyond the traditional.
After building this core team, current DDB Chicago CEO Andrea Diquez will be leaving the business on November 1 to pursue a unique opportunity.
DDB North America CEO and president Justin Thomas Copeland said: “Sandra, Rodrigo, and Milo have been an integral part of our network since day one. While we are sad to lose Andrea, she has completed her brief and has set the agency up for great success under the partnership of this trio. All three have been key orchestrators in the agency’s new business success, driving a 25% growth rate over the past year, and raising the bar when it comes to creative product, earning accolades across our industry’s largest stages and growing our client’s brands.”
In 2022 alone, in addition to bringing home hardware at D&AD and One Show, DDB Chicago secured ten Cannes Lions, across six different projects for brands including Skittles, Coors Light, Twix, and Miller Lite. The agency also played a vital role in DDB earning the #1 Most Effective Network in 2022 by Effie US. On the new business front, DDB Chicago has proven to be a trusted partner to iconic brands like Reynold’s Consumer Products (Reynolds & Hefty), Bimbo Bakery (Arnold Bread), and Orkin Pest Control, and Oma Fertility, to name a few recent wins.
Alfaro said “It’s been such an honour to be able to work with this team every day, as we make amazing award-winning work for some great clients. We have a lot to be proud of over the past year, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
Alfaro has been overseeing leadership and growth for the region’s largest office in her role as Head of Business Leadership and will bring her keen ability to understand business to inspire effective integrated communications into her new role as President of DDB Chicago. For over 25 years, she has partnered with clients to help drive transformational growth by harnessing the power and influence of the diverse consumer.
Jatene will continue to lead the vision, culture, and creative product as chief creative officer. He holds over 23 years of experience and several prestigious accolades over the course of his career, for brands in almost every industry. He has led some of the most compelling work in the world in recent years, with data, technology and a careful humanity at the core of everything he does.
Jatene said: “Creativity of all forms has always been and will always be the heart and soul of everything we do, and I’m excited to continue to write the next chapters of this legendary agency as it evolves into a future-forward creative powerhouse alongside Milo, Sandra, and the amazingly talented team we’ve built together.”
Chao will continue to oversee strategic functions for the office’s portfolio of clients at a time of transformation and growth and with key insights help Unexpected Works come to life. He holds over 22 years of experience and a unique set of skills including creative and brand, platform, commerce, and start-up experience.
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