• by Steve McClellan , January 5, 2015

Rob Schwartz has been appointed CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, one of the flagship offices of the TBWA Worldwide network, part of Omnicom Group.

Schwartz replaces Robert Harwood-Matthews, who is leaving the agency to pursue other opportunities. Harwood-Matthews had been in the role for more than two years.

The change is the latest senior management shift at the agency. In July, Troy Ruhanen succeeded Tom Carroll as President and CEO TBWA Worldwide. And in April, Luis DeAnda was named president of the Los Angeles office, succeeding Carisa Bianchi.

Of the shift in New York Ruhanen said: “The only way to control your destiny is to be closer to your client, more intimate with the category and always ahead of the competition. I demand this, clients expect it ,and Rob will ensure that this promise is delivered.”

The shift follows Kraft Foods’ decision last fall to remove TBWA New York from its roster. New York isn’t the only office to lose recent business. The agency’s Los Angeles unit lost longtime client Infiniti after a 10-month review in October.

Previously, Schwartz was Global Creative President for TBWA Worldwide. During his time at TBWA, Schwartz has worked with global clients including Nissan, McDonald’s, GSK, PepsiCo and Johnson & Johnson. He is credited with playing a key role in establishing the multidiscipline cross-Omnicom group, Nissan United, which is the central hub for all Nissan communications worldwide, based in New York.

“Leading one of the network’s key offices and working on our biggest global accounts over the past years, coupled with what I’ve learned from my mentors, Lee Clow and TBWA Chairman, Jean-Marie Dru...has prepared me well to create an office that is a truly global client hub and cornerstone of the TBWA network,” Schwartz said.