NEW YORK–Don Dillon, regional director for McCann-Erickson in Europe, Middle East and Africa since January 2000, is retiring from the agency, effective at the end of September. Ben Langdon, who was regional director of Europe for Universal McCann–the agency’s media-services arm–and chairman, CEO of McCann London and the McCann U.K. & Ireland Group, is replacing him.
Covering 75 countries, McCann-Erickson Europe/Africa/Middle East is the largest operating region within McCann-Erickson Worldwide and claims regional billings of $8 billion. Under Dillon, 56, billings for McCann in the U.K. have more than quadrupled. The London shop also won such accounts as Bacardi, Norwich Union, Pfizer and MasterCard.
In a statement, Jim Heekin, CEO of McCann-Erickson WorldGroup, the parent company of McCann-Erickson Worldwide said, “Don has long been a key member of the worldwide management team, and in every post has done an outstanding job…Ben Langdon…is superbly qualified to step into Don’s post and we anticipate a very successful and smooth transition.” Langdon, 38, will report to Heekin.
Langdon joined McCann-Erickson in 1996 as chief executive of the London agency and subsequently added chairman to his title. Three years later he was promoted to chairman and chief executive of the McCann-Erickson UK & Ireland Group.
At the beginning of 2000, Langdon added regional director responsibilities for Universal McCann. Under Langdon, Universal McCann developed a strategic planning discipline and established Universal Interactive.
Prior to joining McCann, Langdon was with Collett Dickenson Pearce where he was appointed chief executive at the age of 29. A native of London, he graduated from Oxford University.
Dillon Retiring From McCann-Erickson
