WPP appoints John O'Keeffe as worldwide creative director

WPP has announced the appointment of John O'Keeffe, former executive creative director of Bartle Bogle Hegarty to worldwide creative director of WPP. O'Keeffe will be based out of London and will report directly to WPP CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell.  

O'Keeffe will be working with WPP companies globally - across agencies, disciplines and clients - to help raise creative standards.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Martin Sorrell said, "WPP continues to build its creative capabilities across all its services. John is a unique talent in our industry. He will accelerate this process and help us ensure that creative capabilities and resources are at the heart of what we do. Like Jon Steel in the planning area, he will lead our creative communities to even greater heights."

During his tenure as executive creative director of BBH, O'Keeffe won 21 Agency of the Year Awards and was named Campaign UK's Creative Director of the Year twice in a row.

O'Keeffe began his advertising career at Saatchi & Saatchi in 1984. In 1990, he joined BBH where he continued producing award-winning work for Audi, One2One, K Shoes and Levi's. Following his appointment to Creative Director in 1998, he was creative lead on a series of successful high profile pitches for the agency, including Johnnie Walker, Woolworths, Vodafone and Unilever's Oral Care toothpaste among others.