TBWA Taps Saatchi Vet To Run Mars

NEW YORK — Omnicom Group’s TBWA Worldwide has brought on board John McNeel, a longtime Saatchi & Saatchi executive, to oversee the $150 million global Mars account.

As evp, worldwide account director, McNeel will manage nearly a dozen brands, including Whiskas, Uncle Ben’s and Combos. The business is shared by offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia, with a big chunk at TBWA\Chiat\Day in Playa del Rey, Calif., and a few brands at TBWA\C\D, here.

McNeel, 47, will be based in New York but will spend at least half of his time visiting client executives and other network offices.