DDB Worldwide has named Chaka Sobhani, previously from Leo Burnett, as President and Chief Creative Officer International. Sobhani will report directly to DDB Worldwide’s Global CEO Alex Lubar. Collaborating with DDB’s global leadership team, she aims to further enhance the DDB Network’s creative prowess and extend its established legacy of excellence and impactful creativity.
During her tenure, Leo Burnett London was named Agency of the Year in 2022 and Leo Burnett Worldwide has received its most awards in 5 years, including being named Network of the Year at Clios, ADC, Dubai Lynx, and Spikes. Multiple award-winning campaigns include “Raise your Arches” and “Lights On” for McDonalds, “The Missing Chapter” for P&G, “One House” for Suncorp” and “Lost Class”.
Before joining Leo Burnett, Sobhani spent a number of years at the leading independent agency Mother, running key accounts and building their content capability. She has worked on an array of large global brands including McDonalds, Coca Cola, Google, Kelloggs, Samsung, Boots, Skoda, Disney, AXA, Morrisons, Tui, Premier Inn, Sky, P&G, General Motors, Stella Artois, National Lottery, Agent Provocateur and Adidas.
Sobhani boasts a rich history, with over ten years of experience as an acclaimed filmmaker and television creative executive. During her tenure, she established ITV’s inaugural in-house creative agency. Her leadership contributed significantly to the network’s reclaiming of the #1 position in the UK. Under her guidance, ITV produced highly successful global formats and content, notably celebrated shows like the X Factor and Downton Abbey. This led to ITV winning prestigious accolades such as Channel of the Year, along with numerous BAFTA’s, Golden Globes, and the esteemed Rose D’Or award.
Alex Lubar said: “Chaka is a true leader. She’s leads by doing, inspiring and deeply understanding the people around her and the clients she works with. Her energy is infectious, her drive is relentless, and her dedication to delivering outstanding creative product for her clients is unquestionable.
She is the type of leader that makes you want to be, make, and do everything better. We have an outstanding creative community at DDB, and the addition of Chaka will continue to raise the bar on our world-class creative product for clients. In short, today is a very good day for DDB Worldwide.”
Before joining Leo Burnett, Sobhani spent a number of years at the leading independent agency Mother, running key accounts and building their content capability. She has worked on an array of large global brands including McDonalds, Coca Cola, Google, Kelloggs, Samsung, Boots, Skoda, Disney, AXA, Morrisons, Tui, Premier Inn, Sky, P&G, General Motors, Stella Artois, National Lottery, Agent Provocateur and Adidas.
Sobhani also spent over a decade as an award winning film-maker and television creative executive. She set up ITV’s first in-house creative agency, during which time the network regained the #1 position in the UK, created its most successful global formats and content in shows like the X Factor and Downton Abbey, and won the prestigious Channel of the Year for the first time as well as numerous BAFTA’s, Golden Globes and the prestigious Rose D’Or.
Alex Lubar said: “Chaka is a true leader. She’s leads by doing, inspiring and deeply understanding the people around her and the clients she works with. Her energy is infectious, her drive is relentless, and her dedication to delivering outstanding creative product for her clients is unquestionable.
She is the type of leader that makes you want to be, make, and do everything better. We have an outstanding creative community at DDB, and the addition of Chaka will continue to raise the bar on our world-class creative product for clients. In short, today is a very good day for DDB Worldwide.”
Sobhani will be based out of DDB’s European headquarters in London and will work closely with Rick Brim, Global CCO of adam&eve DDB.
