Tony DeGregorio resigned Thursday from his post as president and creative director of Publicis in New York to join Philadelphia-based Tierney Communications as chairman and chief creative officer.
DeGregorio has worked at Levine, Huntley, Schmidt & Beaver, McCann-Erickson and Lintas, where he created the well-known Diet Coke spot using computer manipulated footage of Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney. At Publicis, he has worked on such brands as BMW, Siemen’s, Fuji Photo Film, Club Med and L’Oreal.
“He has a passion that meets mine. He really wants to get into this thing and he loves the work,” said Brian Tierney, 44, who bought the agency from Foote, Cone & Belding in 1994. Tierney said he interviewed nearly 30 candidates but “it always came back to Tony.”
DeGregorio fills a vacancy created when Rochelle Klein departed late last year. Sig Gross, who has been acting creative director, becomes associate creative director and reports to DeGregorio, who plans to remain in New York and spend several days a week in Philadelphia.
Tierney Communications is a division of True North Commnuncations, which is being acquired by the Interpublic Group. Tierney clients include Sunoco and Verizon, for which it created the James Earl Jones campaign.
DeGregorio Exits Publicis For Tierney
