DDB Needham here has hired Fallon McElligott veteran Pat Burnham as executive creative director three months after his abrupt departure from Publicis/Bloom in Dallas.
Burnham, who will join DDB Needham on Jan. 1., served just three weeks as executive creative director at Publicis/Bloom. He worked directly under co-chairman and longtime creative chief Seth Werner, with plans to assume day-to-day control of the department.
It appears Burnham will enter a similar structure at DDB, where he will oversee daily operations of the creative department, reporting to managing director and chief creative officer Rick Carpenter.
Burnham has also served as executive vice president and creative director at McKinney & Silver in Raleigh, N.C., and creative chief at Fallon McElligott in Minneapolis.
He resigned from Publicis/Bloom for personal reasons [Adweek, Sept. 15], after less than a month on the job and just two weeks after denying rumors he was leaving.
Burnham cited DDB Needham's work for the L.A. Times and Great Western Bank as what attracted him to the shop.
"I think I can bring enthusiasm, experience and knowledge to the agency," said Burnham. "I've always been able to help people to do good work."
The move comes as DDB Needham's co-managing director and chief operating officer Candy Deemer plans to depart after a 17-year career. Carpenter, who previously shared the role of managing director with Deemer, will now be the sole executive with that title reporting to Los Angeles office president Dave Park. --with Glen Fest