This morning Digitas North America announced the latest change atop its creative department with former chief content officer Scott Donaton adding another word to his title.
The longtime publisher of a certain trade publication we don’t currently work for will work to unite the creative and content teams while reporting to global president Michael Kahn.
As part of this shift, global CCO Ronald Ng will be leaving the agency in August.
His move may have been in the works for a bit; last month, Digitas announced that Atit Shah and Andrew Carlson would become co-COOs for North America after Ng was promoted to the global role.
In a statement to Adweek, Ng said, “I’m most proud of our unicorns who work so hard to create transformational ideas for our amazing client partners day in, day out!”
He declined to comment further or provide more information on where he’s going next. Prior to joining Digitas, he spent several years with the BBDO and Proximity organizations in Malaysia, New York and Singapore.
A tipster forwarded us his full memo, which we’ve reprinted below.
Hey Gang!
As you may have heard, I am leaving Digitas.
My last day is August 15th, my 1,308th Day as a unicorn. And as cliché as it sounds, it has been an absolute privilege. Every day, I looked forward to working alongside you and the bad-ass teams across our offices. And for selfish reasons, to learn from you, to be a better thinker, leader and human.
Through the power of creativity, we experienced great momentum. We dropped the ‘D & G’ in Digitas to take a stand against ignorance. We got the world’s No.1 female wingsuit athlete to do a Dunkin’ pick up at 120 mph. We put Whirlpool washers and dryers in schools and helped 90% of participating students improve their attendance. The list goes on. And on.
Together, we were a connected gang. Strategy, Data, Media, Tech, Content, Account Partners and Creative creating impactful work for the brands and clients we care so much about. We stopped behaving like ‘an agency with a creative department’. Instead we became ‘a complete creative agency’ because of one simple thing… obsessive passion for great work. Truth. Connection. Wonder.? Check! Check! And Check!
And thankfully, the industry recognized our clients’ bravery and your hard work. Thirteen months ago, we won a Cannes Creative Data Lions Grand Prix. We also won the WARC Marketing Effectiveness Grand Prix. We were ranked No. 1 twice in the 2017 Cannes Global Creativity Report. And No. 1 Digital Agency in the World in the 2018 WARC Top 100 Agencies rankings. We did it, gang!
Yet it’s not the shameless list above I’m most proud of. I’m most proud of the amazing unicorns I’ve stood side by side and shoulder to shoulder with, who work so hard to create transformational ideas for our amazing clients day in, day out! And I thank you for letting me be part of it all.
Now, I can’t think of a better person to take this agency forward than Scott Donaton. I get excited just thinking about the possibilities! And under MK’s leadership, powered by Publicis Media, with recently hired and elevated stars like Atit, Andrew, Sue, Jenny, Mike, Peter, Matt, Gary, Molly and Craig, Digitas has nothing but greatness ahead.
I’ll be a unicorn for a few more weeks. I have, and will continue to appreciate every single minute. I will move to another adventure. But I will forever be grateful to you for the privilege to be your leader, student, friend.
Be famous, don’t be strangers.