Brent Choi joining JWT

Brent Choi is joining JWT in the newly created position of chief creative and integration officer. Choi, who has worked at Cundari as CCO since 2009, says JWT began courting him in June of last year. He will start his new role at the end of this month, and his responsibilities will include driving the creative vision and digital integration of JWT Canada in his new role.

Martin Shewchuk, currently ECD, JWT Canada will move into the role of creative chairman, offering support and counsel through the transition. “Martin played a big role in bringing me on board, both from his persistence and the respect I have for him in all that he’s accomplished,” says Choi.

“JWT has an amazing roster of brands. I hope to build on the success they’ve had over the past several years, specifically modernizing their offerings and positioning them to take on the new consumer realities,” he says, adding that leaving Cundari was “the most difficult decision I’ve ever made in my career.”

Choi recently won two Gold Lions in Cannes this summer for the agency’s work on the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children’s Pain Squad App. The work also took top prize at the CMAs, Fast Company‘s Innovation by Design and strategy‘s first-ever Campaign of the Year.

“I am truly excited to partner with Brent,” said Susan Kim-Kirkland, president and CEO, JWT Canada in a release. “His proven success in inspiring creative innovation is game changing for us. Brent represents the next generation of transformational creative directors. His ability to inspire an agency around the vision of great people and great work has been key to his success in creating award-winning integrated experiences and ideas with global impact for clients. He will be an outstanding addition to JWT Canada and to our global network.”

Aldo Cundari, chairman and CEO at Cundari, who has nothing but good things to say about the outgoing CCO, says he originally tapped Choi to help improve the quality of the creative going out the door at the agency.

“We brought Brent in to retool the creative to build into the next phase which is rapid expansion,” he says. “The creative talent is still here and we are looking for that leader.”

Since rumours began swirling around Choi’s departure Cundari says he has received numerous emails from other senior creatives interested in the position.

“We have a good reputation and solid creative leads so it isn’t like the CCO position needs to be filled tomorrow but we would rather fill it sooner than later,” he says. “I have a line-up at my door now. I have received at least 22 emails from creative directors, senior VPs and CCOs at other firms. Today alone I have had 10 LinkedIn requests and 10 to 15 emails. All very senior people.”