Arnold Recruits GSD&M Exec for VW

BOSTON David Eiben started yesterday at Havas’ Arnold in Boston as vice president and group account director on the agency’s flagship Volkswagen business, the shop confirmed.

Eiben, 38, replaces svp Don Lane, who now oversees the ESPN Mobile and Timberland accounts.

Eiben comes from Omnicom Group’s GSD&M in Austin, Texas, where he served as an account director on Frito-Lay. Prior to GSD&M, he worked as an account director at Fallon on BMW. There, he helped oversee the BMW Films project. Eiben reports to Jon Castle, managing partner at Arnold.

“David is a strategic leader with a real passion for the creative product,” said Castle, in a statement. “I believe he will be an extraordinary asset to the VW team.”

Volkswagen, which ranks as Arnold’s largest account, spent $125 million on ads through May after spending about $300 million during 2004, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.