Leo Burnett Names New Communications Leadership Team

Patti Temple Rocks Brings Experience and Successful Corporate Reputation Building to Agency

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Jan 06, 2010, 06:48 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Leo Burnett today named Patti Temple Rocks executive vice president and global director of corporate communications responsible for strategic leadership of internal and external communications for the agency. Temple Rocks assumes her new position effective January 19.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100106/CG33723)

Temple Rocks, 50, formerly served as vice president, global public affairs and reputation at The Dow Chemical Company, where she led a global communications function of over 300 employees in 28 countries. She is returning to Chicago where she spent much of her career as a senior leader at Golin Harris International, overseeing McDonald's, BP, Levi Strauss and several other blue-chip accounts. Over the course of her career, Temple Rocks has worked with and for both traditional and non-traditional agencies and is no stranger to the advertising industry.

"On the heels of adding Susan Credle as our U.S. chief creative officer, Patti's hiring continues the momentum as Leo Burnett continues to evolve and look forward to an even brighter future," said Rich Stoddart, president of Leo Burnett USA to whom Temple Rocks will report. "Patti has led communications efforts for some of the world's most iconic brands with vision and creative flair that truly moves people. She is an exceptional talent and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Burnett family."

"Leo Burnett's reputation for transforming human behavior through creativity is unparalleled and the opportunity to build on that strong foundation and to be a key player in the future of this agency is a terrific opportunity. Throughout the course of my conversations with the agency leadership, it became very clear to me that they are extremely committed to communications as a key part of their global growth strategy going forward," said Temple Rocks, "I can't wait to get started."

Temple Rocks joins Burnett as the agency is experiencing a significant rise in creative performance. Leo Burnett Worldwide was the third-most awarded network at Cannes 2009 and the Third-Most Awarded Creative Network in the World (2009 Creativity Awards Report). Additionally, the network has been recognized as the #1 Network in New World Thinking (Gunn Report 2008). Its flagship creative office leads by example, continuing to shine at every major creative show in 2009, winning at Cannes, One Show, Clio, D&AD, Art Directors Club of New York and Andy's.

Leo Burnett also announced today that it has hired Amy Cheronis, 39, as senior vice president, director worldwide corporate communications, effective January 11. She will report to Temple Rocks. Cheronis was most recently senior vice president, U.S. communications director at DDB in Chicago.

"There are tremendously talented people and a fantastic creative product at Leo Burnett, both here in Chicago and in offices around the world," said Cheronis. "I am excited to work with Patti and have the opportunity to tell the Leo Burnett story in a fresh, relevant way."

About Leo Burnett Company Inc.

Leo Burnett Company Inc. is one of the world's largest agency networks and the parent company of Leo Burnett and its marketing services arm, Arc. Leo Burnett is a HumanKind communications company. Our approach is simple and singular: we put a brand's purpose at the center of our communications in order to truly connect with people. Then, we activate this human purpose to create what we refer to as "Acts, not just Ads." In doing so, we make a life-long meaningful relationship between people and brands.

We believe when you create value, you create value for your clients. That's why an impressive number of the world's most valuable brands, including The Coca-Cola Company, Kellogg, McDonald's, Hallmark, Allstate, Walgreens, Procter & Gamble and Nintendo work with Leo Burnett. Clients share our purpose-centered approach and, like us, they know that agencies don't create great brands. People do.

SOURCE Leo Burnett