Carter Murray Named CEO of Draftfcb Worldwide

Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced yesterday that Carter Murray has been named CEO of Draftfcb Worldwide. Mr. Murray, 38, joins from Y&R, where he was President and CEO for North America and CEO, Y&R New York. He had previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and Worldwide Account Director on Nestlé, as well as a member of the Executive Committee at Publicis Worldwide. Mr. Murray began his career at Leo Burnett in Chicago and held a number of posts at that agency, including stints in Germany and the United Kingdom. He replaces Laurence Boschetto, who will remain with the agency through a transitional period and then serve as a Senior Advisor to IPG in a consulting capacity. Howard Draft will continue in his role as Executive Chairman at Draftfcb. Mr. Murray will be based in New York.

 

“We’re very pleased to welcome Carter in this key role at an important time for Draftfcb,” said Michael I. Roth, Interpublic’s Chairman and CEO. “He understands consumer advertising and brands, has demonstrated the ability to motivate diverse teams and raise the quality of creative work, nurture client relationships and win global business. This combination of skills and experience in a dynamic new leader is what the agency needs in order to evolve its integrated model and drive growth.” Mr. Roth added, “We thank Laurence for his contributions to our search for his successor and to the agency, including a consistent and high level of operational and financial delivery. We wish him well in his ongoing industry activity, particularly in the area of diversity and inclusion, where we will continue to work together.”

 

“I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity. Draftfcb has outstanding people, clients and a commitment to putting together the best of brand advertising and accountable communications disciplines, such as digital, CRM and activation,” said Mr. Murray. “That’s a powerful promise we must make good on. When we do, the Draftfcb offer will be hard for clients to resist. Working with the strong leadership teams across the network and with Interpublic’s continued support, I feel we can deliver on that vision and do something really special.”

 

“Carter brings energy, a new perspective and range of talents that will take us to the next level,” said Mr. Boschetto. “I’ll do everything to help him step into the CEO role seamlessly and I know our senior teams will do so as well. I thank all of our nearly 9,000 people around the world for their support and I know the agency’s best days are ahead. Moving onto the next chapter personally, in working to promote our industry and in particular to work for greater diversity among our ranks, is something to which I am very much looking forward.”