Eric Cruz joined DDB San Francisco as Executive Creative Director and works with ECD Ben Wolan.

“Eric is different from me in a number of ways, and I know that,” said Wolan. “I wanted a partner who had different skills and experiences than me, but who shared the same passion for creativity as I did. Eric brings outstanding design and experience skills and with his global lens he will help us write more unexpected stories. I couldn’t be more excited to work with him, expand our creativity and expand the SF office. “

As a Filipino-American globalist, creative director, designer and educator, Cruz brings over 23 years of industry experience to the table. He has held various management positions at agencies around the world such as Sid Lee, AKQA, Leo Burnett and Wieden + Kennedy.

Most recently, as Sid Lee USA and Executive Creative Director for Innovation & Design at Digital Kitchen, Cruz was responsible for pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling, products, platforms and experiences for clients such as Facebook Reality Labs, Tubi, Journi, the Los Angeles Rams and Warner Brothers. Before that, as ECD of AKQA Shanghai, he headed the Greater China team and helped shape the future through innovative brand storytelling for Nike, Jordan, Converse, Apple, Airbnb, NBA, Diageo, J&J, Gore-Tex, Lycra, The. to help shape the city of Shanghai and Hong Kong. During his tenure as the creative director of Leo Burnett Malaysia, Cruz helped grow a traditional agency with 90 employees into a future-oriented agency with 320 employees.

Cruz started his career at Wieden + Kennedy, where he spent over 11 years in Portland, Tokyo and London. He was co-founder and director of the W + K Tokyo Lab, the agency’s creative think tank and experimental music brand. Cruz regularly lectures to inspire the next generation of talent and has taught design, advertising, and moving media at the Center for Creative Studies Detroit, Temple University Tokyo, and The One Academy Kuala Lumpur. Cruz was also a founding member of TEDx Shanghai, which aimed to spark China’s innovation renaissance through creative dialogue, exchange of ideas, and transformative evolution.

Cruz said, “The DDB network has a strong legacy and the vision to create Unexpected Works is one that I have followed throughout my career. The opportunity to deal with new economy brands and to explore new ways of brand building in the digital age and in Web 3.0 is super exciting. I am eager to shake things up with John (DDB SF President McCarthy), Ben and the great team at DDB SF. “

Cruz has received worldwide recognition on a number of fronts including the Tokyo ADC, Cannes Lions, ADC New York, One Show, D&AD, Spikes Asia, AdFest, The Webbys, and Japan Media Arts Festival.

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John McCarthy, President of DDB SF, said: “This is a great moment for us. Eric represents both the momentum of our growth so far and key skills to guide us into the future. He will undoubtedly be a fantastic partner for Ben. And.” I am incredibly excited to see what is to come for this dynamic team. “

Cruz is a Filipino-American globalist, creative, designer, and educator with over 23 years of industry experience. He is known for combining design, storytelling, experience and innovation to deliver the unexpected. Cruz also brings broad international experience, as he has held various management positions at agencies worldwide at Sid Lee, AKQA, Leo Burnett, and Wieden + Kennedy, are developing a model for the creative network of the future and researching how creativity can invent this morning.

Most recently as Sid Lee United States of America and Executive Creative Director for Innovation & Design for Digital Kitchen, Cruz led the task of exploring worlds beyond belief and the limits of digital storytelling, products, platforms and experiences for clients like Facebook Reality Labs, Tubi, Journi, the LA Rams and Moving Warner Brothers. Previously, as ECD of AKQA Shanghai, he headed the Greater China Team that helps shape the future for Nike through innovative brand storytelling, Jordan, Converse, Apple, Airbnb, NBA, Diageo, J&J, Gore-Tex, Lycra, The Shanghai city and Hong Kong. During his tenure as the creative director of Leo Burnett Malaysia, Cruz helped grow a traditional agency with 90 employees into a future-oriented agency with 320 employees.

Wolan said, “Eric is different from me in a number of ways and he is very aware of that. I wanted a partner who had different skills and experiences than me, but who shared the same passion for creativity as me. Eric brings great design and experience with skills and with his global perspective he will help us write more unexpected stories. I couldn’t be more excited to work with him, expand our creativity and expand the SF office.

Cruz began his career at Wieden + Kennedy, where he worked in Portland, Tokyo and London. He was co-founder and director of the W + K Tokyo Lab, the agency’s creative think tank and experimental music brand. Cruz regularly lectures to inspire the next generation of talent and has taught design, advertising and moving media at the Center for Creative Studies Detroit, Temple University Tokyo and The One Academy Kuala Lumpur. Cruz was also a founding member of TEDx Shanghai, which aimed to ignite China Innovation renaissance through creative dialogue, exchange of ideas and transformative evolution.

Cruz said, “The DDB network has a strong legacy and the vision to create Unexpected Works is one that I have followed throughout my career. The opportunity to deal with brands of the new economy and explore new ways of branding in the digital age and Web 3.0 is super exciting. I am eager to shake things up with John, Ben and the great team at DDB SF! ”

Cruz was recognized by the Tokyo ADC, Cannes Lions, ADC New York, A show, D&AD, Spikes Asia, AdFest, AdStars, The Webbys, The FWA, CSS Design Awards and Japan Media Arts Festival.

Born in the Phillipines and grew up in the US and Spain, he’s “at home” in right now The angel around the world after a 20 year old backpack.

ABOUT DDB WORLDWIDE
DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. DDB has been recognized by D&AD and ADC as Network of the Year 2021 as well as multiple awards from the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and the leading advertising publications and award ceremonies in the industry. The WARC has listed DDB as one of the top 3 global networks for 12 of the last 15 years. Clients on the network include Molson Coors, Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Unilever, Mars, Peloton, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson and the US Army. Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) and has more than 200 offices in over 70 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY.

ABOUT OMNICOM
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE – OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s brand networks and numerous specialist firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and purchasing, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialized communications services to over 5,000 customers in more than 70 countries.

CONTACT: Donna Tobin, Global Chief Marketing & Communications Officer; [email protected]

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