Y&R and its parent company WPP are being tight-lipped about the abrupt departure of Y&R Canada president and CEO Chris Jordan after 12 years with the agency.
Chris Jordan
Theresa Tepper, Y&R’s North American director of public relations in New York, said the company isn’t granting interviews regarding Jordan’s departure. She provided Marketing with a statement that reads, in part:
“We are thankful to Chris Jordan for his 12 years of leadership at Y&R Canada, and we wish him the very best moving forward. As we continue to evolve as an agency, we are recognizing the immense value of the leadership of Israel Diaz, EVP, chief creative officer; Carl McMurray, SVP, chief financial officer; Susan Murray, EVP, chief marketing officer; Kasi Bruno, VP, strategy and cultural insights; and Gavin Bayley, SVP, global client leader.”
The release does not say if someone will be appointed to fill Jordan’s old position, only that this group now comprises Y&R Canada’s senior leadership team, reporting into Y&R North America CEO Matt Anthony and North American COO Sean Howard.
Bayley joined Y&R from Leo Burnett in June, assuming the newly created role of senior VP, global client leader for Bank of Montreal, North America. BMO tapped Y&R for its creative in November, following 12 years with Cossette.
Jordan’s departure comes one month after the opening of Blue Hive, which brings together Y&R and fellow WPP agencies Mindshare and Wunderman to oversee all marketing aspects for Y&R clients Ford of Canada and the Ford Dealer Associations. Blue Hive is headed by Steve Rosenblum, who spent 15 years in various marketing roles with Ford rival General Motors, including chief marketing officer and executive marketing and advertising director positions with its GMC, Buick, Pontiac and Chevrolet divisions.
Announcing the opening of Blue Hive in June, Jordan said in a statement that the agency was created to “increase coordination and efficiency” among the automaker’s agency roster and ensure best practices.
Diaz did not respond to Marketing’s interview requests by the publishing deadline.
Jordan arrived at Y&R from CBC, where he was the public broadcaster’s chief marketing and sales officer, in 2002.
