Global creative agency DAVID has hired Daniel Lobatón as its first Chief Creative Officer for North America, overseeing the North American offices of DAVID Miami and DAVID New York. Lobatón will take on the new role to oversee creative operations, ensuring both offices continue to deliver ideas that drive the business forward, while also bringing new opportunities in his field and growth to the agency in North America. Lobatón will be based in the DAVID New York office and will report directly to Global Chief Creative Officer Pancho Cassis and Co-Founder and Chairman Fernando Musa.
“We are thrilled to have Daniel help lead DAVID’s growth in the U.S. during such a pivotal time for the advertising industry. His industry expertise and distinguished career will elevate our work and reinforce our belief that creativity is at the core of our clients’ businesses,” said Musa. “As the industry undergoes significant changes, Daniel’s role will be instrumental in navigating these shifts and driving innovation for our clients.”
Lobatón joins DAVID after two years as Chief Creative Officer at Rethink New York, where he led the agency’s move from Canada to the U.S., helping Rethink earn the coveted Independent Network of the Year award at Cannes Lions, with multiple wins for Kraft Heinz, and new clients including Uber Eats and Epidemic Sound, among others. Lobatón previously served as CCO and Co-President of Saatchi & Saatchi New York, leading a five-year stint of growth and success with P&G’s Tide brand. Prior to that, he worked at VML in Kansas City, LatinWorks in Austin, Texas, and Y&R in his hometown of Lima, Peru. He has received hundreds of awards from Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Clio Awards, and an Emmy nomination for his landmark It’s a Tide ad.
“Daniel is one of the most relevant creative leaders in the US, and his arrival at DAVID marks an exciting new chapter for us. His creative vision and business success with major US clients are exactly what we need to further fuel our growth in the market. With Daniel on board, DAVID continues to leverage the power of diversity to deliver memorable, impactful work that places brands in pop culture and helps us become one of the most diverse, creative and effective agencies in North America,” said Pancho.
This appointment marks a new phase of growth for DAVID in North America. In just two years of existence, the agency’s New York office has established itself as a new competitor in the US market, achieving unprecedented growth and winning numerous awards for delivering innovative work for global brands including Clif Bar (Mondelēz), Clash of Clans (Supercell), AB InBev and Burger King Global. At the same time, DAVID Miami continues to prove itself as one of the world’s best creative agencies, delivering effective, award-winning work for clients such as Google Android, Netflix, Pennington and Coca-Cola, among others. The DAVID New York and DAVID Miami offices will continue to be led by local Chief Creative Officers André Toledo and Edgard Gianesi, respectively.
“DAVID has a tremendous legacy of innovative creativity that drives business for iconic brands. Pancho, Musa and I have been talking about this possibility for years and this feels like the perfect time. The teams at DAVID New York and DAVID Miami are comprised of some of the most talented people in the industry, and I can’t wait to get started,” said the new CCO of North America, who officially starts on September 23.
Lobatón will split his time between Miami and New York City, but will be based at the agency’s new office at the iconic Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Refinery at Domino is a 19th-century factory that has been renovated into a stunning office space, maintaining its status as an iconic Brooklyn waterfront landmark. The physical space will enable strong connections between the DAVID team and current and potential clients, and serve as a place for the DAVID team to get inspired and engage.
DAVID has six offices around the world: New York, Miami, Madrid, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Bogotá. The team represents 25 nationalities and operates with a flat, lean structure to amplify each diverse perspective and foster collaboration.
