FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:

April 23, 2015

Locatio Vancouver and Toronto

n:
DDB Canada Bolsters Its Executive Leadership With Three New Appointments
Patty Jones and Michelle Kitchen are named EVP, co-managing directors for Vancouver
and Melanie Johnston is promoted to president in Toronto
DDB Canada is pleased to announce three new, strategic appointments in its Vancouver
and Toronto offices. Long-time DDB veterans Patty Jones and Michelle Kitchen have been
promoted to EVP, co-managing directors of DDB Canada Vancouver, and Melanie
Johnston has been promoted to president of DDB Canada Toronto.
Lance Saunders, who was recently appointed as DDB Canadas national president and
chief operating officer, made the announcements today, filling these key leadership
roles.
Patty and Michelle are two passionate leaders, each with their own unique
complementary skills; together, this duo will excel at the helm of our Vancouver office,
explains Saunders. Our Toronto office has also experienced exponential growth, and
Melanie has played an instrumental role in that context; under her leadership, I know the
Toronto office will continue to flourish and push new boundaries.
Jones has been with DDB Canada Vancouver for 15 years, and Kitchen has a combined
16 years in both the Toronto and Vancouver offices.
These promotions recognize Jones and Kitchens deep client relationships and new
business wins, as well as their contributions in helping to transform the Vancouver office
with an improved operational model. This has created opportunities for the next level of
new agency strategic partnerships with universities, entrepreneurs and business
consultancies. As a result, the offices client roster has expanded to now serve both
domestic and key US centres.
Johnston has been with DDB Canada for over a decade and has held numerous titles
including group account director, client services director and since 2010 SVP, managing
director of the Toronto office. Johnston has contributed greatly to DDB Canada Torontos
growth and innovation story, most recently with the Volkswagen Canada new business
win. As president, Melanie will be responsible for people development, creative product,
revenue growth, and overall stewardship of the Toronto agency.

1600 777 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC V5L4Y8 T 604.687.7911 F 604.6404343 www.ddbcanada.com

These appointments not only build upon DDB Canadas heritage of cultivating top talent
and promoting from within, but they also mark an important milestone for the Canadian
marketing communications industry. DDB Canada is now the only major agency in the
country with female leadership at the helm of all of its offices. This includes: Patty Jones
and Michelle Kitchen, EVP, co-managing directors of DDB Canada Vancouver; Helene
Leggatt, president of DDB Canada Edmonton; Melanie Johnston, president, DDB Canada
Toronto; and Monique Brosseau, vice-president and managing director, DDB Canada
Montreal.
DDB Canada is proud to advance gender equality in the workplace, says Frank Palmer,
chairman and CEO, DDB Canada. We hire and promote our people based on individual
talent and merit, and in each of these cases the best person for the job just happened to
be a woman.
About DDB Canada
DDB Canada is the most creatively acclaimed, internationally recognized marketing
communications agency in Canada. The agency was named Top Creative Agency in
strategy magazine's 2015 Creative Report Card and was ranked #1 agency in Canada by
the Gunn Report in 2014. Known for advertising that generates significant results for
clients, DDB Canada is a "total communications company" whose fundamental belief is
that creativity is the most powerful force in business. DDB Canada has offices in
Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. The agency's integrated marketing
disciplines include: youth marketing, public relations, event management digital, social,
mobile, branding, design, direct, CRM, recruitment marketing and shopper marketing.
- 30 For more information or interviews, please contact:
Paige Calvert
604.608.4421
paige.calvert@ddbcanada.com