DDB North America reinvigorates New York flagship office with new executive hires

Rhea-AI Summary

DDB North America has appointed Darla Price as President and Auro Trini Castelli as Chief Strategy Officer for its New York office. These appointments come at a pivotal time for the agency, as it aims to enhance its creative approach and brand strategy. Price brings over 20 years of experience and a successful track record with major brands like Microsoft. Trini Castelli, with two decades in design and marketing, has worked for iconic brands such as Apple and Goldman Sachs. The leadership changes align with DDB's recent rebranding efforts and relocation to a new office in New York's Financial District.

Positive

• Appointment of seasoned leaders with extensive brand-building experience.
• Darla Price's proven success in driving growth for major brands like Microsoft.
• Auro Trini Castelli's strategic expertise with notable brands such as Apple and Goldman Sachs.
• DDB's rebranding and new office location signal a renewed focus on creativity and strategy.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB North America today announced the addition of two new leaders at the helm of their New York office. Darla Price joins DDB New York as President and Auro Trini Castelli joins as Chief Strategy Officer.

"Darla and Auro join DDB at such a pivotal time for the New York office," says North America CEO Justin Thomas-Copeland. "These leaders have the pedigree to continue the work of marketers like Bill Bernbach and Phyllis Robinson where they had their start, in New York City. Darla is a deeply respected Executive leader who has helped build iconic global brands through award-winning creativity.  Auro's strategic expertise spans design thinking, technology and data to build business and brands through progressive creativity and purposeful experiences.  Combined they will form an unstoppable force. These leaders will bring a fusion of progressive and connected thinking, creativity and world class making to grow our clients' business. This will revolutionize the office. We're so excited to have them."

Darla Price joins DDB New York with over two decades experience running iconic brands across technology, CPG, retail, beauty and B2B, both domestically and internationally.  Most recently President of 215 McCann, Price has spent the last 7 years in executive roles at McCann New York.  Price is a creative-first leader who brings growth and big brand experience to her role, in addition to her background as an Executive Coach and DE&I champion.  Her approach to culture-driving creativity has resulted in award-winning success for tech giants like Microsoft.  Price's style is a fusion of ideas and a barrier breaking energy that drives growth for both the client and agency.

"I was drawn to DDB because of what the agency is famous for – creativity," says Price. "Creativity has the ability to unlock new consumer connections, deeper brand engagement, and bring forward unexpected solutions to drive growth for our clients.  The new energy and capabilities at DDB New York will allow us to build what we see as the agency model of the future, while staying true to the high-caliber creative the business was founded on.  I'm honored to be a part of such a great legacy."

Auro Trini Castelli joins DDB New York as Chief Strategy Officer and will report to Price on all strategic functions for the office's clients, playing an instrumental role in fortifying DDB New York's strategy, digital & design capabilities. He joins from agency Elephant where he oversaw strategic development for offices in the US and internationally. Trini Castelli brings over two decades of design and marketing experience in both Europe and North America to his role. He has worked for some of the world's most iconic B2B and B2C brands including Apple, Beats by Dre, Goldman Sachs, HP, Morgan Stanley and OREO across a vast range of markets, categories and disciplines.

Says Trini Castelli: "Teaming up with Darla, Justin and all the incredibly talented people at the agency will make DDB New York an unstoppable force in our industry. I am looking forward to constantly redefine what creativity means and demonstrate the value that it will bring to our clients, to their stakeholders, and to all of society."

Both leaders join DDB New York during a time of change, having recently left its iconic offices at 437 Madison Avenue for a building in New York's Financial District. Both DDB New York and DDB Worldwide are headquartered at 195 Broadway. DDB Worldwide has also shifted its approach to business with an evolved brand positioning entitled 'Unexpected Works.' The positioning was presented to DDB's global workforce with the agency's first virtual conference and announced with an unexpected billboard. The agency's history of tapping into the unexpected dates back to the iconic Volkswagen 'Lemon' campaign, an advertisement with a history firmly planted in New York. 

DDB North America brings both creativity, connection and growth to the forefront of its business approach with these two key hires in New York.

"Auro and Darla are a force of nature and will inspire a new chapter in DDB New York's legacy," says Thomas-Copeland. "We are excited to have such creatively minded and connected leaders shake up our flagship office. It's an exciting time to be at DDB."

ABOUT DDB
DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world's largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. DDB has been named Agency of the Year numerous times by the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and the industry's leading advertising publications and awards shows. The WARC has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 12 of the last 15 years. The agency's clients include Volkswagen, McDonald's, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and the U.S. Army, among others.

Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY.

ABOUT OMNICOM
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE – OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Media Contact: Xavier Totor, Xavier.totor@ddb.com

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SOURCE DDB North America

FAQ

What recent leadership changes occurred at DDB North America?

DDB North America appointed Darla Price as President and Auro Trini Castelli as Chief Strategy Officer for its New York office.

What experience does Darla Price bring to DDB?

Darla Price has over 20 years of experience in brand management, previously serving as President of 215 McCann, and has worked with notable brands like Microsoft.

Who is the new Chief Strategy Officer at DDB New York?

Auro Trini Castelli has been appointed as the Chief Strategy Officer at DDB New York.

What are DDB North America's recent business developments?

DDB North America has relocated its New York office to the Financial District and revamped its brand positioning as part of its growth strategy.

How will the new leadership impact DDB New York?

The new leaders aim to enhance creativity and strategy, potentially revolutionizing DDB New York's operations and client engagement.