BBH USA has appointed Connor Keeshan as managing director—a new role meant to guide the Publicis Groupe agency through its next chapter of growth.
Keeshan returns to BBH after a five-year stint earlier in his career as an account director. He will now lead account management, reporting to CEO Steven Panariello.
In his career, Keeshan has held senior account management roles at agencies including Johannes Leonardo and TBWA, working on global brands like PlayStation, British Airways, Volkswagen, Samsung, and Mercedes-Benz.
“I love a boomerang story,” Panariello told ADWEEK. “To spend time at BBH—and some of the best people in this industry have—is a fascinating common denominator.”
Keeshan will be tasked with keeping up the momentum for BBH USA, which has recently added 11 wins to its roster—including Goodyear, PayPal, Grey Goose, and PATRÓN.
Panariello, who joined as CEO in August, called the past several months a “thrilling ride.”
“The momentum has been really galvanizing,” he said, adding that the managing director role was needed to “operationalize growth” and “deepen client relationships as we continue to add new partners.”
As BBH enters what Panariello calls its “next pivotal chapter,” the agency is focused on strengthening leadership and sustaining its culture. Keeshan joins a leadership team that, in addition to Panariello, includes CCO Erica Roberts, CSO Samantha Deevi, and CMO Lindsey McNabb.
“There’s a lot of trust between the leaders,” Panariello said. “We know how to rely on each other and how to get the most out of each other, to show up best as an agency.”
He added that BBH has proven its capabilities around rebuilding “iconic brands” that have lost their status and want to reclaim their place in consumers’ minds.
With Keeshan on board, Panariello predicts more growth and “a really exciting new chapter for BBH USA.”