Ortiz to Lead Burnett in Latin America

CHICAGO Leo Burnett said it has named Juan Carlos Ortiz group president of its Latin America operations.

Ortiz, who was previously president and chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Colombia, succeeds Giacomo Zandomenego, who is retiring, in the post.

“Everyone at Leo Burnett thanks Giacomo Zandomenego for his many contributions to the Leo Burnett brand in this key region over more than three decades,” said Burnett worldwide CEO Tom Bernardin in a statement. “We are very fortunate to have Juan Carlos Ortiz, a proven leader with an outstanding track record, to succeed [him].”

Ortiz, 37, will officially take over the post on July 1. A 15-year veteran of the agency, Ortiz will work with regional creative director Alexandre Okada to manage the operations of 18 offices serving countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Ortiz, who will report to Bernardin, will remain worldwide creative head on the network’s Procter & Gamble business.

Zandomenego, 60, is a 36-year agency veteran, who began his career in the network’s Caracas, Venezuela, office as a media executive. After leading several Latin American offices, Zandomenego was named group president of the Latin American region in 1996.