DDB Chicago

Last Modified: 06-02-2025

https://www.ddb.com/
Ownership: Holding Company
Size: 101-200

Overview

Company Summary

DDB is The Emotional Advantage Agency.   “Unless you feel it, nothing will happen” – Bill Bernbach, DDB co-founder. DDB is built on the foundation that emotion is the last unfair advantage in business. Science proves action is fueled by the heart, which triggers the brain’s response to move. By unlocking emotionally charged creativity, we deliver intimacy at scale and craft ideas that move people, culture and business. At 150 people in Chicago, we bring the hunger and energy of a start-up and are backed by a powerful global network with a 75-year legacy of leveraging best-in-class expertise from across our network to gives brands a competitive advantage wherever they are connecting with people. Ideas that perform in the real world – from 360 creative platforms to bespoke, highly responsive digital, social and retail campaigns, we activate ideas that elevate brands out of categories and into the hearts and minds of customers.

Contact

225 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
P: (31-2).-552.
F: (31-2).-552.

Laura Cona
Chief Growth & Marketing Officer, NA
[email protected]
(978).886.3084

Offices

DDB Chicago
225 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
312-552-6000

Global Service Capabilities

Caribbean;South America;Central America;Asia (except China);Australia;Eastern Europe;Mexico;China;Worldwide;South Pacific;Western Europe;Canada

Staff

Total Number of Employees

Office Employees: 101-200
Total US: 201-500
Total Worldwide: 500+

Azher Ahmed
EVP, Director of Digital
For over 14 years, Azher has spearheaded digital efforts revolving around marketing, community build, branding and promotion across dozens of big brands including Comcast, Tyson, Abbott Labs and Mars. Azher originally started out as a Creative Designer, and brings a good mix of creative thinking and usability to traditionally cut-and-dry technical approaches.

He has led development of award-winning mobile, web, experiential and social platforms for numerous top-tier clients. His experience also includes pioneering real-time web marketing optimization platforms for DeVry and Discover Card as well as e-commerce platforms for clients including Dell, Wells Fargo and AOL.

Azher is an online community enthusiast, and possesses deep knowledge and experience in building social applications such as blogs, discussion forums, wikis and online collaboration engines—applications that play a key role in online & guerilla marketing.

Dave Kissel
EVP, Global Business Lead
xx

Valerie Bengoa
Chief Operations Officer
Valerie Bengoa is a strategically oriented finance and operations professional who has been part of the DDB team since 1998. During her career she occupied financial roles at Tribal DDB, Downtown Partners, Matrix and DDB Seattle. In March of 2008 she relocated from DDB’s Seattle office back to her hometown of Chicago – the city where it all began - to occupy the role of SVP, Chief Financial Officer at DDB’s flagship office. She's now added the position of Chief Operations Officer to her role at DDB Chicago.

Prior to her homecoming, Valerie acted as the primary architect in restructuring operations and process for DDB’s Seattle office. A member of the four person Executive Team, she was personally responsible for overseeing finance, human resources, information technology and office services. During her time in Seattle, the institution of new process resulted in efficiencies and increased profit margins. Additionally, she co-authored several original automated agency systems that streamlined workflow. Several of these programs are now being rolled out to the other DDB offices in the U.S.

Jaime McGill
Head of Strategy
xx

Dave Kissel
EVP, Global Business Lead
Dave Kissel is a senior marketing executive and Global Business Lead at DDB Worldwide, where he leads DDB Chicago and drives innovative marketing models for Fortune 500 clients. With over 25 years of experience—including spearheading award-winning work for McDonald’s and building teams at top agencies and media companies—Dave is recognized for his impact on brand growth, effectiveness, and industry leadership.

Kyle Jones
Head of Social
xx

Jamie McGarry
SVP, Director of Business Development
Jamie is a business development professional leading the charge for new business at DDB Chicago. Previously Jamie was Director of Business Development at O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul, a creative start-up agency in Chicago, where she was responsible for building the agency’s roster by winning and onboarding clients including Big Lots, Orbitz and Turtle Wax. Prior to her role at OKRP, Jamie spent more than 10 years at FCB Chicago, where she moved up the ranks in business development and successfully led teams to win and retain some of the agency's most substantial clients.

Jaime McGill
Head of Strategy
Jaime is passionate about using creativity to solve business challenges, specializing in uncovering new cultural relevance for brands by deconstructing their DNA. With deep expertise in positioning, design, and innovation, she has helped build and grow both major and emerging brands—including the creation of High Noon for Gallo—across the CPG sector.

Kyle Jones
Head of Social
Kyle draws on over 15 years of experience building culturally fluent, performance-driven digital ecosystems for top global brands. With a decade at Twitter (pre-X) and expertise at the intersection of platform-native insight, storytelling, and agile execution, he develops multi-platform content systems that drive both attention and action for clients.

Kyle Jones
Head of Social
xx

Dave Kissel
EVP, Global Business Lead
xx

Clients and Brands

Client & Brands	Start Date
McDonald's	N/A
U.S. Army	N/A
Molson Coors Brewing Company	N/A
Bimbo	N/A
Orkin Pest Control	N/A
Mars	N/A

Billings & Revenue

Billing / Revenue Ranges Number of Clients

Total Gross Media Placed by this Office

Allocation Percent of Media Placed by this Office

Types of Services

Service Offering Revenue
Advertising - General Market/ Traditional 55
Business-to-Business 14
Brand Consulting 10
Digital/Interactive | Website Development, Hosting, Monitoring 8
Direct Marketing 5
Health Care 5
Recruitment Advertising 1
Sales Promotion 1
New Product Development 1
Creative Strategy & Development 0
Data & Analytics 0
Multicultural | Hispanic/Latino 0
Shopper Marketing 0
Social Media 0
Corporate Communications 0
Influencer Marketing 0
Experiential 0
Content stategy & development 0

Service Offering	Revenue
Advertising - General Market/ Traditional	55
Business-to-Business	14
Brand Consulting	10
Digital/Interactive \| Website Development, Hosting, Monitoring	8
Direct Marketing	5
Health Care	5
Recruitment Advertising	1
Sales Promotion	1
New Product Development	1
Creative Strategy & Development	0
Data & Analytics	0
Multicultural \| Hispanic/Latino	0
Shopper Marketing	0
Social Media	0
Corporate Communications	0
Influencer Marketing	0
Experiential	0
Content stategy & development	0

Industry Experience

Agency Profile