Exclusive: David Miami Names CCO

For the first time in years, David has a CCO in its flagship Miami office. Rafael Donato, a five-year veteran of David São Paulo, will now lead David's creative operations in the U.S., a responsibility previously handled by David global CCO Pancho Cassis. Donato was most recently executive creative director. "This is a story of growth within the company, a company that doesn't go and buy the shining star from the coolest agency, but grows the people within," Cassis told Adweek, calling Donato the ideal person to serve as David Miami CCO and commending him on his work for David São Paulo. While 2020 may have been a turbulent year, Cassis said that David oversaw an "amazing year" by growing business with Budweiser and Burger King, and adding a global project for beer brand Corona. Donato said he was particularly proud of his role working on campaigns that helped Burger King become a preferred brand over McDonald's. He also cited his creative highlights as 2019's "Burn That Ad", 2020's "Christmas in July" for Burger King and on "This Coke Is A Fanta." Prior to joining David in 2016, he spent eight years with Ogilvy Brazil, serving as creative director before taking a role with David São Paulo. Starting from a distance Due to travel restrictions, Donato will initially run creative operations for David Miami from Brazil. "For me, it's the story of one agency. The pandemic has made us more connected, there hasn't been a better year to start from a distance," he said, adding that it's a natural transition with the two offices sharing clients like Mondelez. "We opened an office working from home. It's incredible," he added, referring to David's Bogotá office, which quickly won the Virgin Mobile Colombia account. "If anything we became too efficient. I can't wait to get back to the agency to not work." Cassis pointed out that David Miami also added six new employees in Miami under a remote setup last year, with the company looking to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the need for greater flexibility. "The pandemic gave us the opportunity to not worry about about an office—to just open," he said of the Colombia office. "One of the things we will take away when we go back to the office is being more connected. That gives us the opportunity to see an option like Bogota." Rounding out the team and continuing growth Donato's appointment follows last month's decision from David Miami to hire Luiza Prata Carvalho from W+K to lead client services. Last year, he agency added a series of creative hires, including a creative team from We Are Unlimited; managing director Ricardo Honegger; global chief strategy officer Paula Vampré; and a pair of art directors. "It's a great moment where the four of us are coming together for this new chapter for David," Donato said. Cassis claimed Donato would be growing David Miami's team even further, hinting that one of the hires was a creative behind a campaign from last year which made the agency envious, adding that he thought it would be a good year for new client opportunities for the agency as well. Donato said he was most excited for the unique positioning of advertising as part of the culture in the U.S. "Advertising is seen in this amazing light. People want to talk about brands. Brands make it into all levels of culture," he said. "And the Super Bowl is this amazing display of what we do." "Coming into a team like David Maimi, that’s a dream for any creative, from CCO to junior creative," he added. David Miami Hires Account Lead Who Worked on Nike and Uber at W+K Portland

Leadership & Talent

Exclusive: David Miami Names CCO

Veteran Rafael Donato takes on the role

Erik Oster

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Erik Oster