PHILIPPINES, MARCH 29, 2011 – McCann Worldgroup Philippines Chairman & CEO Patricia “Ricki” Arches announces her decision to retire from her top-level post at the agency effective April 30 this year.
Arches departs McCann after 24 years of steering one of the most successful and best performing McCann offices in the world as well as consistent local market leader since 2007. She joined the agency in November1986 as VP- CFO, overseeing McCann’s finance and administrative service functions. Her management role expanded quickly to include supervision of the client service function and the agency’s business operations with her appointment as EVP and COO in 1992. In 1999, she was appointed President and has served as CEO of McCann Erickson since 2002. Arches is credited for transforming McCann into what is now the country’s biggest multi-discipline marketing communications company, McCann Worldgroup, launched in 2006, which expanded its capabilities beyond advertising to include digital relationship marketing, activation and shopper sciences, healthcare communications and media.
Last year, Arches was appointed Chairman of the Board, marking McCann Worldgroup Philippines’ pivotal role in the continued growth of South East Asia markets in the global McCann network. The appointment was a testament to her leadership, after helping bring the company to new heights of collaborative innovation and profitability.
With her retirement, Arches turns over McCann Worldgroup leadership management reins at the hands of two highly respected industry luminaries. Incumbent MWG Chief Creative Officer Raul M. Castro is appointed Executive Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, and current McCann Erickson Managing Director Nandy Villar takes on the position of MWG President & Chief Operating Officer. The multi-awarded Castro joined McCann in 2007 as EVP- CCO. At the time, he immediately re-engineered the agency’s creative product and processes which led to a streak of new business wins and creative awards, locally and internationally. According to Arches, “The decision to make Raul Executive Chairman while retaining his CCO role is a clear message that McCann Worldgroup believes that creativity must be at the heart of our business, and is the key to unlocking the truths that will guide our search for brand building marketing solutions.”
Nandy Villar has established a long career at McCann and was named McCann Erickson’s Managing Director in 2006. Prior to that, he was McCann Worldgroup’s Chief Strategy Officer and was responsible for setting up what many clients consider the best planning group in the industry. His rich 19-year history in McCann includes handling and overseeing all major accounts of McCann like Coca-Cola, San Miguel Beer, Unilab, Bank of the Philippine Islands, L’Oreal, Globe, Petron, Nestle, Jollibee, and J.S. Unitrade among many others. Villar has also held top industry positions as Chairman of the 4As of the Philippines, Vice-Chairman of the Adboard, and Board Member of the Ad Standards Council.
In his new role, Villar will be responsible for taking MWG’s multi-discipline solutions to the next level— transforming brands and growing client’s businesses with increased accountability. Arches says, “Nandy’s background in strategic planning and account management will certainly be put to the fore in marshalling the Worldgroup’s multi-disciplinary expertise and resources to serve the growing needs of clients for more integrated, media-neutral business solutions to the rapidly changing marketing communications challenges that face brands today.”
Arches is positive that these changes will only push McCann Worldgroup in strengthening its foothold on market leadership. “I am confident I have laid down necessary infrastructure and built the right management team to ensure McCann’s continued business success long into the future. The new batch of leaders is prime and ready to move to the next level and actively pursue game-changing strategies.”
Charles Cadell, McCann Worldgroup Regional Managing Director for South East Asia and Australia says, “I am immensely proud of what Ricki has achieved for McCann Worldgroup in her 24 years with us, and especially over the last 8 years as President & CEO. She has built McCann into the powerhouse it is today and so allows Raul and Nandy to step on the shoulders of a giant, taking us into the next chapter of the McCann Worldgroup Philippine story.”
