Wunderman Thompson Hires New York CCO From Facebook Creative Group

An agency spokesperson confirmed the hire to Adweek. Applebaum will begin the role this month, leading creative across Wunderman Thompson New York’s client roster. She will work closely with Wunderman Thompson North America CCO Taras Wayner, who joined the agency from R/GA last October, and report to CEO Joe Crump, who joined Wunderman Thompson as chief executive in December 2018.

Applebaum joins the agency from Facebook Creative Group, where she has served as global creative strategist across Facebook and Instagram since 2016. She will be the first person to hold the New York CCO role since Wunderman Thompson was formed out of the integration of legacy creative agency J. Walter Thompson and digital network Wunderman in November 2018.

Prior to joining Facebook Creative Group, Applebaum served as creative director at Barbarian Group, where she oversaw digital content across brands like Pepsi. She was also group creative director at JWT, working with clients such as Nestle, Smirnoff and Tylenol.

Over the course of her career, Applebaum has earned over 20 industry awards including ADC, Cannes Lions, D&AD, Facebook Studio Awards and London International Awards.

A source with knowledge of the agency’s operations said that the move was in line with Wunderman Thompson’s strategy of retooling its creative department and “shortening the gap between thinking and making,” adding that Applebaum’s background includes a mix of conceptual creative roles and a knowledge of platforms.

In November, Wunderman Thompson appointed Bas Korsten and Daniel Bonner as global chief creative officers. Last month, digital marketing agency Pierry became the last agency to integrate within Wunderman Thompson, following the integration of Mirum, iStrategy Labs and Possible in North America.