Linus Karlsson and Andreas Dahlqvist have new roles at McCann Erickson: Karlsson is now chief creative officer, global brands while his Swedish compatriot is deputy CCO, global brands.
Karlsson had previously been chairman and CCO for London and N.Y. while Dahlqvist was vice chairman and executive creative director of the N.Y. agency.
Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy will take over much of the responsibilities of Karlsson and Dahlqvist in New York. The two McCann N.Y. veterans, formerly executive creative directors, have been promoted to co-CCOs of the N.Y. agency, the global flagship and largest office in North America.
Most recently, Bryan and Murphy were given oversight on Verizon’s non-wireless FiOS business, one of the largest accounts in the N.Y. agency, after George Dewey, the creative lead on the business, quit in late September. In their new roles, they will continue to focus on Verizon as well as the other accounts at the N.Y. agency. Both report to McCann North America president Hank Summy and to Karlsson and Dahlqvist.
In a statement, Karlsson said: “Andreas and I have watched Sean and Tom grow into smart, natural leaders and it feels great to be able to elevate talent from within the organization.”
McCann said Karlsson, in his new role, will focus more on the network’s global clients, including his input into the new creative leadership of Commonwealth, a joint venture with an Omnicom’s Goodby, Silverstein & Partners unit to work on GM’s Chevrolet brand. Karlsson has also been named chairman of McCann’s global Creative Leadership Council, which will be part of his new duties. Karlsson retains his title of chairman, N.Y. and London, and Dahlqvist continues as vice chairman of McCann N.Y.