DDB Worldwide chief executive Alex Lubar has left the Omnicom network with no immediate plans to fill his vacancy.
Lubar joins brand strategy consultancy Fundamentalco as chief executive, and DDB has refused to comment on whether a successor would be sought.
He departs DDB weeks before parent company Omnicom is expected to conclude an acquisition of rival Interpublic Group. His exit is likely to add weight to reports that Omnicom is set to retire the DDB brand.
Last month, B&T reported that Omnicom plans to dissolve the iconic agency brand Dane Doyle Bernbach (DDB) as part of an integration plan to consolidate its creative services into fewer power brands, including BBDO Worldwide, McCann and TBWA\Worldwide. The news was not welcomed by senior industry figures.
Another rumoured has emerged that FCB and Lowe could also join forces.
Since B&T’s report was published, other sources have informally indicated the ‘DDB’ brand is likely to be phased out in their markets, although no official policy has been cited.
DDB had been consolidating ahead of the IPG acquisition by combining DDB Chicago, adam&eveDDB, and multicultural agency Alma under a new North America leadership team.
DDB New York also merged with adam&eveNYC in recent years and Omnicom has rolled DDB, BBDO and TBWA under Omnicom Advertising Group.
But is aware of other markets that have plans to retire the DDB brand.
Lubar joined DDB in late 2022 as president and COO after nearly a decade at McCann Worldgroup. He became global chief executive in October 2023 and DDB Worldwide won the 2025 Cannes Lions Network of The Year Award under his watch.
Lubar joins a brand consulting firm that caters to private equity firms and was spun out from Blackstone in 2024.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Fundamentalco has 35 staff, is led by Johnny Bauer and on track to grow revenue by 63 per cent to $20 million ($31 million).
