BBDO Adds Duties to Two Top Regional Execs

Two top BBDO Worldwide regional executives have been given expanded duties: Troy Ruhanen, deputy chairman of BBDO North America, has been named chairman, CEO, the Americas. In addition, Chris Thomas, chairman, CEO of BBDO Asia, is adding responsibility for the Middle East and Africa.

In his new role, Ruhanen has oversight of BBDO’s operations in North, Central, and South America, including the company’s Proximity direct and digital agency network. This is a new position at BBDO, and Ruhanen reports to BBDO Worldwide president, CEO Andrew Robertson.

Over the past 18 months as deputy chairman, Ruhanen has been involved in building out BBDO’s digital and strategic planning resources and helped establish new client service offerings, including a new proprietary analytic/ROI capability. (Ruhanen is also the lead on BBDO’s billion-dollar AT&T account.) In his new role, he is charged with strengthening global client relationships and expanding the agency’s social media and shopper marketing capabilities across the region.

The expanded responsibilities for Thomas align his regional duties with many of BBDO’s global clients. Thomas, who also holds the global position of chairman of Proximity Worldwide, has been instrumental in building the company’s Asian operations in recent years.