Y&R Changes New York Agency Structure and Management Team
David Sable, Global CEO of Y&R, announced today that the final step in his first-year plan for the agency is the restructuring of its Y&R New York office and the merging of BrandBuzz into the NY office.
Carter Murray, CEO of Y&R North America, will take on the additional role of CEO of Y&R New York, supported by a core management team of both new talent and key existing leaders of the NY agency:
• Sean Howard — moves from Y&R sibling Wunderman Seattle, where he has been serving as Global Client Services Director, to take on the role as General Manager of the office.
• Jim Elliott — who joined Y&R in 2011 from Goodby continues as Chief Creative Officer.
• Gloria Prestifilippo, who joined Y&R in 2011 as VP, Director of Human Resources from Juicy Couture, has been promoted to Chief Talent Officer.
• Frank Cavazinni continues his role as CFO of Y&R New York and has been with Y&R since 1987.
• NY Strategy Review Board — will be established and will be driven by Y&RNY’s senior strategic leaders Belle Frank, Joe Rivas and Chip Walker.
This restructuring is the culmination of Sable’s first-year strategy for the global agency. Since his arrival, Sable, who has spent most of his career at Y&R and Y&R Group companies, has made significant changes to the focus, structure, operations and staffing of Y&R worldwide.
“Since I came back to Y&R a year ago, we have been making changes across our network, leveraging our strengths, striving to raise the bar, while continuing to simplify our model. Each of our offices now have this in common —the right leadership, a partnership between business outcomes/strategy and creative, full digital capability and the right focus in the market,” said David Sable.
“One of the things we have done this year is empower our local agencies to think of themselves as Global Boutiques. The strongest global networks always have the strongest local agencies — rooted and relevant in their market, where consumers connect and engage with brands. Our local agencies resonate globally, because we are organized and practiced at working as a global community.
“When Y&R created BrandBuzz in 1999 it was a beta for how the industry has subsequently evolved — with its multi-disciplinary, channel neutral, horizontal structure that pioneered the close partnership you see between channel and creative. BrandBuzz will feel very much at home at today’s Y&R New York, and we welcome back their tremendously talented people, terrific energy and entrepreneurial thinking. Mike Reese will work with Carter in a senior management position, focusing on special projects in North America.
“In making these changes at Y&R New York, we give this office the gravitas, the diversity and the edge that are so uniquely New York and necessary to serve its client base of global, national and local companies. Our model is based on having great people and few layers, so that everyone and everything is close to the work. With Carter Murray leading the charge, I think our clients will be delighted with the attention, the ideas and the work they’ll receive,” he added.
“Y&R North America has great momentum right now. And Y&R New York has some of the most amazing, committed and creative talent I’ve seen at an agency. In putting this leadership team in place, we are creating a great open environment, with all the support and inspiration we need to produce extraordinary and effective work for our clients. I am so excited about moving forward,” said Carter Murray.
Tom Sebok, who stepped in to lead the NY agency on an interim basis last year, is leaving the agency to pursue other opportunities. Said Carter Murray, “Tom did us the great service of creating continuity for the agency. He’s been terrifically generous with his support and his steady leadership as we developed our plan for Y&R New York. We all wish him the very best in his next chapter.”
