• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, January 13, 2017

BBDO New York has created the new role of chief strategy officer and promoted Crystal Rix to fill it. The Omnicom agency has also appointed Tara DeVeaux Chief Marketing Officer, a role that has been vacant for more than a year since Simon Bond departed for Interpublic.

According to the agency, both moves are designed to foster its ongoing “transformation” to a more data- and channel-driven operation. 

In her new role, DeVeaux will report to John Osborn, CEO of BBDO New York. She is responsible for driving business growth and optimizing the agency’s marketing service offerings.

Rix will oversee the agency's expanding strategic offerings, including data analytics, marketing science and communications planning.

“These appointments reflect our desire to continuously look for ways to develop smarter work ... to drive change and maximize economic benefits for our clients,” stated Osborn. 

Rix, a 10-year agency vet, was most recently director of business development. She began as a senior brand strategist. She is also a key member of the AT&T new agency model – and will continue in that role. 

Last summer AT&T re-bundled its agency assignment, selecting Omnicom Group for creative and media duties on its massive $3 billion advertising account. The scope of work also includes digital, data and analytics.

DeVeaux’s appointment as CMO is a homecoming of sorts, as she previously spent nearly seven years at BBDO as a senior account director. Most recently, she was president of MING Utility and Entertainment Group, a marketing firm focused on design, technology and entertainment.

DeVeaux and Rix are the latest appointments to BBDO New York’s expanding senior management team.

Other recent appointments include Tina Allan, head of data and analytics; Sharona Sankar-King, head of marketing science; Julian Cole, head of communications planning; Denise Henry, head of the agency’s HealthWork partnership with CDM Group; and Dave Rolfe, head of integrated production.