After a year-long stint as director of global insights & innovation at Brand USA, the D.C.-based government unit set up to promote travel to the U.S. (remember this spot?), Rich Santiago has headed back to the agency world to take a gig with BBDO Atlanta. Santiago is joining the agency as SVP, director of behavioral planning and as you’d expect, will be heading up the the ATL office’s planning group.
Prior to his work with Brand USA, Santiago spent two years as VP/group strategy director at Mullen and has also held planning posts at the likes of Leo Burnett and GSD&M during his career. In addition to his agency jobs, Santiago also founded his own consultancy called Artful Monkey, where he served as “chief instigator.” BBDO Atlanta’s newest SVP, who starts this week, says in a statement, “This business is simple – good people with exceptional talent who, together, believe they can change a client’s business with amazing ideas. There is no better example of this than at BBDO Atlanta. And as a network, BBDO’s relentless focus on ‘the work, the work, the work’ is why it is consistently recognized as one of the best global creative agencies in world. I’m extremely excited to be joining a talented and energized group in Atlanta to help build on this tradition.”