Co-President of Havas WW Chicago Named

Havas Worldwide Chicago has appointed Jason Peterson to the role of Co-President, entrusting him with additional responsibility for the agency's overall operations. Peterson – who brings three years of experience leading the agency's creative efforts as well as his own considerable social influence – will continue in his role as Chief Creative Officer, while helping to further bolster the agency's digital offering to its clients.

Peterson will share decision-making with Joy Schwartz, who has served as Co-President since 2009 and has been instrumental in helping Havas Worldwide Chicago with its significant growth. Both will continue to report to Ron Bess, CEO of Havas Worldwide Chicago and President of Havas Worldwide North America.

Peterson replaces Norm Yustin, who recently resigned from Havas Worldwide Chicago after holding the position for two years. Peterson's added responsibilities are effective immediately, and Yustin will help with the transition through the end of August.

"Jason is precisely the right person for this role, given his extensive creative leadership, digital expertise, and ability to anticipate what will resonate with clients and consumers," Bess said.

Peterson most recently led a successful pitch to DISH and DishLATINO, which selected Havas Worldwide Chicago as its new digital agency of record. Havas Worldwide was chosen after a comprehensive agency review, affirming the strength of the agency's unified Havas Village model and its commitment to digital at the core.

"The most effective solutions for our clients' problems have creative solution at the core – our business demands this," Peterson said. "This is the next step and deeper commitment to creating a truly multichannel creative agency."

Peterson has more than 20 years of creative experience in television, print, interactive advertising, and brand identity, and is widely considered one of the most creative people in social media marketing. Formerly, Peterson was Executive Creative Director, Partner and Co-President at Translation, where he worked on clients that included Target, Wrigley's and the McDonald's millennial effort. Before Translation, he was a creative director and founding partner at WPP's Berlin Cameron United, working on Coca-Cola, Heineken, General Motors, and Comcast.