Erin Riley, TBWA\Chiat\Day US CEO, is elevated to Global CEO alongside Erwan Guillou as Global CFO.
TBWA, the Disruption® Company, today names a new global leadership team for 2025. Erin Riley, the current US CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day, has been elevated to Global CEO of TBWA, with Erwan Guillou, TBWA\Chiat\Day US CFO and Global Chief Pricing Officer, appointed as Global CFO.
The appointments follow the formation of Omnicom’s new global division, Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG), which elevated TBWA’s former Global CEO, Troy Ruhanen and Global CFO, Denis Streiff.
No stranger to TBWA and its proprietary Disruption® methodology, Riley has been with the collective since 2016, first joining TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles as President before taking the helm as CEO in 2021. In 2023, she went on to oversee the successful unification and subsequent significant growth of both Chiat\Day\New York and LA as Chiat\Day US CEO.
Riley said, "As I think about the challenges and opportunities that face our industry and our clients, TBWA is exactly where I want to be. Over the last near decade, I have witnessed the power of Disruption® - as both a methodology and ethos - transform the fates of brands. I have also seen brilliant fellow disruptors from across the globe lead with integrity, smarts and humanity. I believe, genuinely, that TBWA is singular in its combination of scale and spirit. I am honored and humbled to take on the charge of continuing to build on the excellence of this Collective."
With a keen understanding of the business of creativity, Riley - in partnership with Guillou as CFO - has driven significant growth across TBWA\Chiat\Day US. She played an integral role in recent new business success, winning hallmark clients such as Discover, Directv, Levi’s and Sephora, as well as nurturing long-standing client relationships with Hilton, Gatorade and many more. Riley was named a Campaign US 40 over 40 honoree in 2023, and TBWA was honored as one of Adweek’s top five US agencies and a Stand Out Agency on AdAge’s A-List that same year.
Her time spent on both the brand and agency side has honed Riley’s unique ability to blend marketing intelligence with creative magic to orchestrate the total brand experience for her clients, propelling them into the cultural conversation. One key focus for her will be scaling the best-in-class specialisms within TBWA that have delivered significant growth and breakthrough work around the world. These include DxD by TBWA\ for design, Feed by TBWA\ for social content creation, and Plex by TBWA\ for B2B and complex businesses.
Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG) Global CEO Troy Ruhanen said; “I’m incredibly proud to say that, once again, TBWA and Omnicom are investing in the elevation of our homegrown talent - rewarding our very best and offering them new and exciting opportunities for progression within our businesses.
He went on, “Erin is a powerhouse. She leads with both head and heart, with an exceptional sixth sense for what will make a difference for the brands across TBWA’s portfolio. She builds enviable talent pools and brings everyone along with her. With Erwan at her side, the 11,000-strong collective is in the best possible hands.”
Reda Raad, Group CEO TBWA\RAAD, added “After nearly 10 years working under Troy’s leadership, it has been an incredible journey to witness how he transformed TBWA and elevated it to new heights. I am confident that he will drive the growth of Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG), turning it into a powerhouse that capitalizes on innovative tools, technologies, and AI platforms to deliver world-class creativity. I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Troy for his outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication to empowering our collective and cultivating talent.
Now, as we welcome Erin as our new Global CEO, we are excited about the future of TBWA and eager to embark on this next chapter of success. Erin’s visionary leadership, passion for talent, and deep commitment to the Disruption® ethos will continue to drive TBWA forward, and her remarkable experience and track record inspire great confidence in the future of our agency.”
