• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, March 6, 2013

Interpublic Group’s Draftfcb has poached Y&R North American CEO Carter Murray to become the agency’s new global CEO, the agency confirmed Wednesday.

Draftfcb said last fall it had begun a search for a new CEO to succeed Laurence Boschetto, who will remain with the agency through a transition period and then shift into a consulting role for IPG with the title of senior advisor.

IPG CEO Michael Roth credited Murray with understanding “consumer advertising and brands,” as well as having “demonstrated the ability to motivate diverse teams and raise the quality of creative work, nurture client relationships and win global business.” It’s that combination of skills and experience, said Roth, that Draftfcb needs to “evolve its integrated model and drive growth."

Prior to the Y&R North American post, which he held since 2011, Murray was CMO at Publicis Worldwide, where he was also worldwide account director on Nestlé, and a member of the agency’s executive committee.

Murray stated that Draftfcb has a “commitment to putting together the best of brand advertising and accountable communications disciplines, such as digital, CRM and activation." The commitment is "a powerful promise we must make good on. When we do, the Draftfcb offer will be hard for clients to resist.”

The CEO switch is the latest in a series of changes at Draftfcb. In January, the agency’s media operation was shifted to IPG Mediabrands, where it reports to media agency Initiative. Also in January, the agency named Javier Campopiano chief creative officer at the shop’s New York office.