JWT Taps Portrate

J. Walter Thompson has named former Lowe managing director Howard Portrate to steer $80 million worth of Diageo liquor business in New York.

Portrate, who starts this week, takes the title of evp, worldwide director-in-charge. He succeeds Rae Burdon, who re turned to JWT’s London office in July to man age its global Rolex business.

The Diageo account includes global creative duties on Smirnoff and Tanqueray and domestic creative duties on J&B scotch, Baileys Irish Cream and a line of single malt whiskeys.

Diageo is “obviously one of our highest-profile global creative accounts,” said shop COO Marc Capra.