Brazil may be soooo 2014, but its moment in the agency spotlight isn’t over just yet–this week J. Walter Thompson Worldwide named Manir Fadel as its newest global ECD.
Fadel joins the WPP fold after spending more than a decade with Lew’Lara, the mid-sized Brazilian agency acquired by Omnicom in 2007 (it later became Lew’Lara TBWA). The new exec, who ascended to the partner/CCO position in Sao Paulo in 2013, began his career as a copywriter with Brazil’s DDB affiliate DM9 before moving to Ogilvy.
During his fifteen-plus years in advertising, Fadel has created work for such clients as Gatorade, Visa, Nissan, Adidas, Save the Children and Banco do Brasil and won the usual array of awards ranging from Lions and Effies to their Brazilian equivalents, CCSP and Prêmio Abril.
He will move to London for his new gig, reporting directly to JWT global CCO Matt Eastwood (who left DDB for JWT New York just over a year ago). One of his first responsibilities will be “elevating the creative” on the Sunsilk shampoo brand, but he will also be working on new business pitches across the JWT network.
In the release, Fadel calls Eastwood “an ambitious leader,” writing:
“I am excited to join J. Walter Thompson at such an important time in its evolution. As Matt shapes the Company’s creative future, I am eager to help him and the network achieve every goal they have set in their creative crosshairs.”
Eastwood also praises the new hire, citing his “creative pedigree” and his ability to make work “that clients love and, most importantly, that people connect with.”
Fadel begins his new job next month.