• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, May 19, 2015

Lee Newman has been appointed CEO of Mullen Lowe U.S., the agency confirmed today. Newman comes to Mullen Lowe, part of Interpublic Group, from WPP’s Ogilvy & Mather in Chicago, where he has been the agency President since 2012 leading a 500 person integrated marketing group.

As CEO for Mullen Lowe U.S., Newman succeeds Alex Leikikh, who was elevated to CEO of Mullen Lowe Group on May 11 when IPG announced plans to join Mullen and Lowe and Partners into one global agency network. 

Prior to Ogilvy, Newman was Managing Director at Wieden+Kennedy in Amsterdam, where he led teams working on a number of global brands, including Nike, Coke, Heineken, P&G, Electronic Arts, Levi’s and ESPN.  

Newman’s earlier agency assignments included stints at Fallon in Minneapolis; GSD&M in Austin, TX; and McKinney in Durham, NC. At all three agencies Newman played a key role in leading automotive brands, including BMW and Audi.

Newman and Leikikh were colleagues together at Fallon earlier in their careers.

“Lee is a great find for our U.S. network,” said Leikikh. “He has a terrific creative pedigree with his Fallon and Wieden experience, coupled with significant operational experience running Ogilvy Chicago and Wieden’s Amsterdam office. What's more, he has over a decade of luxury automotive experience on BMW and Audi, which means our Acura clients will benefit immediately from his expertise.”

The agency said Newman will be partnered with Mark Wenneker, Chief Creative Officer, Mullen Lowe U.S., to “steer growth, manage clients, develop talent and ensure creative excellence” across the agency’s four offices in Boston, LA, New York City and Winston-Salem, NC.