Nearly three years after joining up with BBDO New York as EVP/group planning director on the AT&T account, Jeff Kenyon has moved up the charts as he’s now been appointed head of planning for the agency. It seems like a natural transition for Kenyon considering that he’s already been shouldering some of the planning responsibilities handled by his predecessor, Paul Matheson, who if you recall returned to Asia last year (the head of planning post has been vacant since then). As mentioned in the past, Kenyon joined BBDO after serving as group planning director at Ogilvy on campaigns including IBM’s “Smarter Planet” and “My Life, My Card” for American Express.

After spending the last 18 months at BBDO’s New York office, the agency’s director of behavioral planning, Paul Matheson, is heading back to Asia. Prior to joining up with BBDO, Matheson spent time as regional planning director at Ogilvy Asia-Pacific and had a lengthy, eight-year stint at BBH before that. Here’s a brief memo sent by BBDO boss David Lubars regarding Matheson’s departure:

“From:David Lubars
To: New York BBDOers
Subject: Paul

Gang,

At the end of the day, there’s no substitute for family.

Which is why I am writing to inform you that Paul Matheson will be leaving BBDO to return to Asia.

You may recall, Paul originally joined us from Ogilvy, where he had been their planning director throughout the Asia-Pacific region for six years.  For personal reasons, Paul has informed us that he would like to return to this area.  He will be leaving BBDO at the end of the month.

We are in the process of looking for Paul’s successor.  In the meantime, please join me in wishing him the best of luck and thanking him for his contributions to BBDO over the past 18 months.

I’ll personally miss Paul.  He’s a good man and a good soul.

David”

 

Just over a year after assuming the EVP/chief strategy officer title at McCann Erickson West, Matt Herrmann is on the move again, this time to BBDO San Francisco, where he’ll take on the post of EVP, director of behavioral planning.Though he’s had stints at BBH New York and Cliff Freeman & Partners (RIP) during his career, Herrmann (left) spent a good chunk of it (five years, give or take) at Goodby as deputy director, brand strategy.

Meanwhile, Herrmann’s new counterpart in BBDO’s Atlanta office will be Catrina McAuliffe, a former planning director at agencies including Chiat\Day San Francisco and Carmichael Lynch. Both Herrmann and McAullife mark the first hires made by BBDO North America director of planning Paul Matheson, who joined up with the agency from O&M Asia Pacific last November.

In other BBDO news, June Baloutine, SVP, director of creative services in New York, has retired after 30+ years at the agency. She has been replaced by Anne Saulnier.

Paul Matheson is headed back to the States to take on the role of EVP, director of behavior planning for BBDO North America. Matheson, who will also be tasked with overseeing planning at BBDO’s New York office, most recently served as regional planning director at O&M Asia Pacific.

Prior to Ogilvy, Matheson spent 1996-2004 at BBH in both London and the U.S., leading planning efforts for notable clients like Axe/Lynx, Johnnie Walker, ING Direct and Sony Ericsson. Matheson’s partner-in-crime in helping change consumer behavior at BBDO will be Nick Bartle, who serves as director of behavioral planning for BBDO San Francisco as well as North America.

In a statement, BBDO NA chairman/CCO David Lubars says he and Matheson both agree on what the purpose of planning is: “To inspire and liberate the work.”