Tara Deveaux Joins BBDO as Chief Marketing Officer

BBDO New York announced today that Tara DeVeaux will be joining the agency as Chief Marketing Officer.  In this role, Ms. DeVeaux will report to John Osborn, CEO of BBDO New York, and be responsible for driving business growth and optimizing the agency’s marketing service offerings.  In addition, the agency announced that Crystal Rix has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer.  Ms. Rix was most recently Director of Business Development.  She is also a key member of the AT&T new agency model – a role she will continue.  Both appointments are reflective of the ongoing transformation that has taken place at BBDO New York over the past year as the agency bolsters its specialist data and analytic capabilities and communications planning practice.

Commenting on these new appointments, John Osborn said, “At BBDO, we believe it’s important to continue to evolve and never sit still.  These appointments reflect our desire to continuously look for ways to develop smarter work, better work, and work that works harder to drive change and maximize economic benefits for our clients.  I’ve worked closely with Tara and seen her ability to inspire and rally teams to achieve great results.”  He added, “A big part of Tara’s role will be to ensure visibility into the innovation and groundbreaking work being done across the agency’s diverse client base.  And while her focus will be on BBDO New York, she’ll also be a bridge to our BBDO agencies in North America.”

Ms. DeVeaux’s appointment as CMO at BBDO is a homecoming of sorts, as she previously spent nearly seven years at BBDO as a Senior Account Director.  Most recently, she was President of MING Utility and Entertainment Group. 

Ms. Rix has been with BBDO for more than ten years, beginning as a Senior Brand Strategist.  That background provided a unique perspective in her most recent role as Director of Business Development, where she was instrumental in helping to win new business, such as Mattel, and shaping the agency’s new data-driven approach for handling the consolidated AT&T business.  As Chief Strategy Officer, she will continue to lead strategic guidance of the AT&T brand, as well as oversee the agency’s newly consolidated strategic practice, including communications planning and data and marketing science.  She was recently named one of Ad Age’s “40 Under 40” and is a recipient of one of BBDO New York’s People Awards.  Ms. Rix will report to Kirsten Flanik, President of BBDO New York. 

“I have personally worked with Crystal for over a decade and witnessed, firsthand, her intellectual curiosity and extraordinary ability to unlock insights that drive both effective and highly creative work for our brands,” said Ms. Flanik.  “Data x Context x Creativity = an Economic Multiplier for our clients.  This is not only how we think, it’s the way BBDO now does business and this direction will continue to be sharpened by Crystal in her new role.” 

Ms. DeVeaux and Ms. Rix join a senior management team that has already been rapidly expanding to include those in other specialist areas.  Key hires include:  Tina Allan, Head of Data and Analytics; Sharona Sankar-King, Head of Marketing Science; Julian Cole, Head of Communications Planning; Denise Henry, Head of the agency’s HealthWork partnership with CDM Group; and Dave Rolfe, Head of Integrated Production.  

Ms. DeVeaux joins BBDO New York the week of January 16; Ms. Rix assumes her new role immediately.