Sarah Watson, head of planning at DDB in London, has been named chief strategy officer, a new role at BBH in New York, where she becomes part of the agency’s top management team.
The move to New York marks a return to the agency for the 37-year-old, who took one of her first jobs at BBH in 2001 and worked her way up to head of international planning at the London agency in 2008. She was recruited to run DDB London’s planning department in August 2009.
Watson, who is expected to assume her new role in mid to late July, will oversee 19 planners. Katie Harrison, who is currently running BBH N.Y.’s planning department, becomes head of strategy. The Publicis Groupe-backed agency’s top management is highly populated by planners; the agency’s chairman, Emma Cookson, is also one.
"This reflects the important role strategy plays within the creative process at BBH," said Greg Andersen, the CEO of BBH N.Y., of Watson's hire
BBH N.Y. has also been looking for a new chief creative officer, following the exit of Kevin Roddy in September. Roddy left after a disagreement with BBH co-founder John Hegarty about the future direction of the agency. BBH N.Y. expects to announce Roddy’s successor within the next couple of week, sources said.