• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, November 13, 2013

Carter Murray, the new Worldwide CEO of Draftfcb, is quickly putting his stamp on the agency.

Today the Interpublic shop confirmed that creative agency veteran Lee Garfinkel has been appointed CEO of Draftfcb New York, effective in January. Garfinkel will oversee all aspects of the global network’s New York office, reporting to Murray.

Garfinkel joins Draftfcb from Havas Worldwide, where he was CCO for global brands and chairman of the New York office.

“Some of the best agency leaders have come from creative backgrounds and I believe that Lee, with his strong creative reputation, is absolutely the right CEO for our New York office at this time,” said Murray.

With Garfinkel’s appointment, Debra Coughlin, currently EVP, global chief marketing officer and general manager of New York, will transition out of her New York role, the agency said.

Prior to Havas, Garfinkel served as chairman and chief creative officer of DDB New York, where he is credited with building up that agency’s digital capabilities while winning assignments from Bud Light, Michelob, Diet Pepsi, Philips Global, Subaru, and Lipton Tea, among others. Earlier, he held senior creative roles at agencies including D’Arcy Worldwide, Lowe & Partners and BBDO. 

“I’m thrilled to join an agency with such bullish ambitions,” said Garfinkel, who added that he sees an “entrepreneurial” opportunity to “re-invent” the office.

Garfinkel will work with New York Chief Creative Officer Javier Campopiano, who assumed that role earlier this year.

The hiring of Garfinkel is the latest of several top appointments that Murray has made since joining the agency a few months ago. In September he named Nigel Jones worldwide chief strategy officer and Chris Shumaker, North American CMO.