BBDO HEALTH NAMES JON CHAPMAN ITS FIRST-EVER CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

Chapman previously led award-winning work at Havas Lynx Group and arrives as agency looks to bolster creative muscle in the health category

Today, BBDO Health, the industry-specific agency within BBDO Worldwide, named Jon Chapman its first-ever chief creative officer.

Chapman was previously the creative chief of Havas Lynx Group, the U.K.-based creative healthcare agency within Havas Worldwide. During his decade-plus tenure, he led award-winning work for brands including Novartis, Sanofi and ViiV Healthcare, for which the agency received a 2019 Silver Cannes Lion in the Pharma/Disease Awareness and Understanding category.

“Jon’s history of creating effective solutions for his clients is unmatched,” said Kirsten Flanik, president and CEO of BBDO New York, in a statement. “He has a sharp, strategic point of view and is the future-facing, analytical creative leader we need to take our Health department to the next level.”

In the new role, Chapman will oversee creative for the agency’s health specialties including diagnostics, oncology and aesthetics, among other therapeutic areas. He will report to Flanik and BBDO Worldwide Global Chief Creative Officer David Lubars.

The agency declined to name its current clients, but according to its website, it has previously executed work for Novartis, Euromelanoma and Flemish Parkinson’s association The Write Thing for Parkinson.

“The idea behind BBDO Health has always been to empower patients,” added Lubars. “Jon has a unique and highly thoughtful empathy for patients combined with the discipline of data-driven insights and analysis. He’s an inspiring leader who’s going to build on the great work we’re already doing.”

In an email, Flanik told Ad Age the new position was born from the desire to bolster the group’s creative muscle within the healthcare space. “The category overall is looking for more breakthrough work, given the barrage of healthcare messages that are currently in market,” she said, attributing the trend to the coronavirus’ impact on consumers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was the first time in a generation that everyone is having a shared experience centered around health care,” Flanik said. “This has led to a global understanding and higher expectation for how health care brands show up for consumers. Given that, many of our health clients are looking for more meaningful ways to make an impact and connect with their core audiences.”