DDB Worldwide Appoints Paul Gunning Chief Executive Officer of DDB Chicago

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Jul 11, 2013, 02:34 ET

CHICAGO, July 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB Worldwide, part of Omnicom Group (OMC; NYSE), announced today the appointment of Paul Gunning to the post of Chief Executive Officer of DDB Chicago, effective immediately. Gunning has served as DDB Worldwide's Chief Digital Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Tribal Worldwide since May 2008.

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"Paul is a true digital innovator with a proven track record of growth, integration and client management, and he is the perfect fit to lead one of our global flagship offices," said Mark O'Brien, President of DDB North America, who added, "I'm confident his digital pedigree will provide DDB Chicago with a competitive advantage in the marketplace."

Prior to assuming the DDB Worldwide Chief Digital Officer role, Gunning, a 13-year veteran of DDB, was Tribal Worldwide CEO (a title he continued to hold), moving up from President of Tribal U.S. East, where he was responsible for the management and profitability of its Chicago and New York offices, and played a key role in setting the strategic direction for the company overall. In addition, Gunning has worked across Tribal's roster of clients, including Gatorade, Johnson & Johnson, Lowe's Home Improvement, McDonald's, State Farm Insurance and Quaker Oats.

"Paul has played a key role in the digitization of the DDB Worldwide network and has built the Tribal Worldwide network into one of the most award-winning digital agencies in the world and I'm confident that he will be able to lead the growth of DDB Chicago as we navigate the evolving technological influences impacting marketing communications," said Chuck Brymer, CEO of DDB Worldwide.

Gunning said, "Chicago is my hometown, and DDB Chicago is one of the most storied and well-respected ad agencies in the world. I look forward to my new role and guiding the agency's way forward with an emphasis on delivering outstanding results to our clients."

Before joining DDB in 2000, Gunning held a variety of positions at interactive advertising agencies, high-tech merchandising companies and promotional agencies. He received an MBA in marketing from DePaul University in 1999.

Gunning succeeds Peter McGuinness, who is returning to New York, where he will take up a post as chief marketing and brand officer at Chobani.

About DDB

DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world's largest and most awarded advertising and marketing networks. In 2012 DDB was named Advertising Network of the Year by Campaign, as well as Agency of the Year and Digital Agency of the Year by Strategy magazine. At the prestigious 2013 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, DDB won 93 Lions, the most ever for the network. In addition, The Gunn Report has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for the last 12 years. The agency's clients include Volkswagen, McDonald's, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and Exxon Mobil, among others.

Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY.

About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE-OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

For further information on Omnicom and its brands, please visit www.omnicomgroup.com

Contact:

Christie Giera
Director of Corporate Communications and North American Public Relations, DDB Worldwide
Email: [email protected]
Office: 212-415-2186

Mia Sissac
Director of Corporate Communications, DDB Chicago
Email: [email protected]
Office: 312-552-6439

SOURCE DDB Worldwide