JWT Names Eastman Digital Chief

JWT has hired former Agency.com worldwide CEO David Eastman in the new position of worldwide digital director.

Eastman, 45, will be based in New York and report to worldwide CEO Bob Jeffrey.

He’ll lead the the management and strategic direction of the digital practice at JWT and subsidiaries such as RMG. He’ll also oversee all activation and through-the-line marketing within the WPP Group network, according to JWT.

“Digital is at the core of our business, and David Eastman will be responsible for integrating our many digital assets and overseeing activation and through-the-line marketing throughout the network to ensure that we’re maximizing resources, sharing knowledge and collaborating efficiently and effectively,” said Jeffrey, in a statement.

Since June 2007, Eastman has been CEO of Omnicom Group’s Republic Family, formerly known as Zulu. Before that, he was president of international operations of Agency.com, an Omnicom shop where he spent seven years.

He shifted to the international role after Agency.com chairman and co-founder Chan Suh replaced him as worldwide CEO, in April 2007, less than a year after Eastman took the reins.

The new JWT role “validates the importance JWT places on integrating digital into everything they do,” Eastman said.

Eastman, who starts in February, also will take a seat on JWT’s worldwide executive committee.