4A’s Confirms Hill as CEO

NEW YORK The board of directors of the American Association of Advertising Agencies today confirmed the appointment of former Lowe North American CEO Nancy Hill as president and CEO of the 4A’s.

Hill, 49, succeeds O. Burtch Drake and becomes the ninth CEO in the association’s 91-year history. Her appointment, which was recommended by a committee of the 4A’s, ends a search process that began last spring.

Drake, who has held the top post since 1994, said, in a statement, “I am confident that Nancy’s experience leading a variety of agencies in a complex and increasingly digital world will greatly benefit the evolving needs of 4A’s members.”

The hire takes effect Friday, and Drake, 66, will leave office, after a transition period, on March 31.

Hill worked at Interpublic Group’s Lowe here from June 2006 until September 2007. She exited amid the agency’s loss of creative duties on General Motors’ GMC brand, an account that had estimated revenue of $10 million.

On Hill’s watch, Lowe forged a new project management function and streamlined its title structure but generated relatively little significant new business, which was one of her main responsibilities.

Before Lowe, Hill was a managing director at Omnicom Group’s BBDO in New York, where she managed the agency’s Visa account. Earlier in her 28-year career, she held management roles at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in San Francisco, Doner in Baltimore and the St. Louis and Venice, Calif., offices of TBWA\Chiat\Day.

“She’s a great listener and she has a ton of energy,” said TBWA worldwide CEO Tom Carroll, a member of the selection committee. “She understands the constituents’ needs.”