Leo Burnett Hires New EVP, Account Lead for U.S. McDonald's Business

Leo Burnett Chicago has appointed Catherine Davis as Executive Vice President and Account Director, overseeing the agency’s McDonald’s business in the U.S. She will be responsible for leading the brand’s marketing programming and will report to Leo Burnett North America CEO Rich Stoddart.

Most recently, Davis was president of Vizeum U.S. since its launch in 2011. Under her leadership, Vizeum was recently named by RECMA as the fastest-growing media agency in the U.S. and globally.  

“Cathy’s deep and diverse experience - digital, creative and media - is a rare marketing trifecta,” said Stoddart. “Having spent time on the client side, she completely understands the challenges modern brands face today. I fully expect her leadership will lead to transformational change for our clients.” 

The hire is a return to Leo Burnett and Chicago for Davis, who previously worked at the agency for 10 years, rising from account executive to VP, account director. While at Burnett, she oversaw brands such as Allstate and Green Giant, among others. She then took on senior-level marketing roles at Morgan Stanley, HARRISdirect and Diageo, all based in New York. She led her own consultancy before being named president of Dentsu’s Vizeum U.S.

Davis was named one of Adweek’s 2014 Media All-Stars. Active in social media, she has 18,000 Twitter followers and, in 2014, made Forbes’ list of 100 Must-Follow Marketing Minds on Twitter.

In January 2015, Leo Burnett unveiled “A Little More Lovin’ Can Change A Lot,” which is the product of McDonald’s North American brand transformation assignment the agency won in August 2015. McDonald’s and Leo Burnett have enjoyed a long-standing partnership, having worked together since 1973.