After 13 years spent moving up the charts at DDB, Paul Gunning has now taken on the top role as CEO of the agency’s Chicago office. Gunning replaces Peter McGuinness, who spent two years at the helm, but is leaving the agency and returning to New York to take on the role of chief marketing and brand officer for Greek yogurt brand, Chobani. Doesn’t seem too surprising considering that Chobani was a client of Gotham, the IPG-owned agency where McGuinness served as president/CEO before moving to DDB. As for Gunning, the newly minted DDB Chicago chief exec spent the last five years as CEO for Tribal Worldwide before assuming his new title.
In a statement regarding his appointment, Gunning says, “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.”
Gunning first started out as an account director at Tribal DDB before moving up to VP/GM and then president before assuming his most recent role.