Bob Scarpelli is a tenacious champion of DDB’s core values of Creativity and Humanity and their core belief that creativity is the most powerful force in business.
As the leader of one of the world’s great agency brands, Scarpelli embodies Bill Bernbach’s mantra that “word of mouth is the best medium of all.” In his 35-year career at DDB, Scarpelli and his teams created some of the most iconic, talked-about and awarded creative work in the world. That work helped build brands for clients such as McDonald’s, State Farm, Anheuser Busch, Volkswagen, Philips and Johnson & Johnson among others.
Scarpelli is such a passionate believer in “Talk Value” that he trademarked the term which has informed and guided DDB’s evolution to “Share Value”, the power of transformative ideas that people play with, participate in and pass along. Inspiring ideas that become part of popular culture and connect communities is at the heart of Scarpelli’s vision for his clients and for DDB.
Under his leadership, DDB has won every advertising award and created a large yet nimble network of award-winning, innovative agencies. The most awarded network in the history of the International Advertising Festival at Cannes, DDB is a consistently strong performer at the Clios, One Show, ANDYs, D&AD and EFFIEs.
Scarpelli served as the President of both the Film and Press juries at the 2007 International Advertising Festival at Cannes and also as President of the 2011 Titanium and Integrated Jury. He has served as Jury Chair of other prestigious international shows, including the Clio Awards, the Radio Mercury Awards and the International ANDY Awards.
Scarpelli started his DDB career as a copywriter at DDB Chicago in 1977. In 2005, he was named DDB Worldwide Chief Creative Officer. And in 2006, he was elevated to the additional role of Chairman of DDB Worldwide.
Scarpelli serves on the boards of the Chicago International Film Festival, The Virginia Commonwealth University BrandCenter and Off the Street Club. Outside the office, Scarpelli devotes his creative energies to following his favorite sports teams, reading (particularly history), photography and living vicariously through his two sons.