Bob Jeffrey

Bob Jeffrey, JWT Chairman and CEO, relaunched the fourth largest advertising agency in the world as a “billion-dollar startup” in February 2005. “We are dedicated to innovation—to thinking and acting like a billion-dollar startup that’s flat, faster and more fun,” explains the 25-year ad veteran, who took the reins of the 300-plus-office global network in 2004.

Bob assumed the additional title of Chairman in 2005. Today, he continues to solidify JWT’s leadership across the globe as he cultivates a winning culture that inspires, nurtures and protects creativity.

In 2004, during Bob’s first year as Worldwide CEO, JWT notched significant global wins, most notably HSBC, and continued to earn incremental business from its existing client base, which includes Ford, Unilever and Pfizer. Prior to that, Bob was President of JWT North America, a role he took on in 2001 after spearheading the revitalization and growth of JWT’s New York operations. Using the transformation of the flagship office as a model, he is reengineered JWT from a traditional ad agency into a fully integrated brand communications company.

Bob joined JWT as New York President in 1998 after two years as Executive Vice President, Managing Director at Lowe & Partners. There, Bob established that agency’s first West Coast operation, attracting Sun Microsystems, Eddie Bauer and Charles Schwab, among other clients.

Currently living in New York City, Bob grew up in Providence, R.I., as the eldest of seven children. He began his advertising career in 1982 as an account executive, first at DDB and then at Chiat\Day in New York. In 1987, he co-founded Goldsmith/Jeffrey, and under his nine-year watch as President and Chief Strategic Officer, the agency became highly regarded for its creative work on accounts such as ESPN, JP Morgan and Bergdorf Goodman. Lowe acquired the agency in 1996.