JWT announces Bob Jeffrey's successor: McCann's Gustavo Martinez

JWT appointed Gustavo Martinez, currently McCann Worldgroup's Europe and Asia president, as global president and announced that he will succeed Bob Jeffrey as worldwide CEO in 2015, at which point Jeffrey will become non-executive chairman.

Martinez had Asia added to his responsibilities at McCann in November 2012 when Harris Diamond replaced Nick Brien in the top post. At the time, McCann said that Diamond, Martinez and Luca Linder, president for the Americas, would act as a three-person office of the chairman.

Martinez will join JWT in February 2014, reporting to Jeffrey, the agency said in a statement, adding that all global discipline leads and region leads will report directly to Martinez. Jeffrey will continue as Worldwide CEO through 2014.

“Over the past few years Gustavo and I have cultivated a relationship of mutual admiration and respect," Jeffrey said in the statement. "He is passionate about the business, devoted to clients and understands that the key asset of the business is the caring, nurturing and understanding of its people. Gustavo Martinez is the future of JWT.”

On his now scheduled departure from the CEO role, Jeffrey commented, “I love JWT—the brands, the clients and most importantly, the people. Throughout 2014, Gustavo and I will work very closely together to guarantee that we continue to provide the very best support to our clients and the agency, and to ensure a seamless transition in 2015."

Prior to McCann, Martinez held positions as global director of global brand management and global new business director at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, where he also served earlier as Latin America regional COO and Latina south region president for Ogilvy & Mather Argentina. He has also logged time at Saatchi & Saatchi.

A native of Argentina, he grew up mainly in Spain and has worked in the US, Canada, Switzerland, Portugal and Italy. 

At present McCann Worldgroup has no announcements to make on Martinez' potential replacement, said a spokesperson. Charles Cadell will remain president of McCann Worldgroup Asia-Pacific and will continue to steer the network in the region. 

The article first appeared on Campaignasia.com