Alex Lopez has been appointed chief creative officer of McCann Worldgroup Japan, a newly created post.  Lopez will work closely with each group agency’s executive creative director (ECD) and senior management to continue raising the creative output and foster a more collaborative environment and strengthen the creative culture to deliver better solutions to clients.

Lopez has 20+ years of experience in global creative agency work with high profile clients in both entertainment and fast-moving consumer goods. He started his career in advertising with Leo Burnett from 1988 until 2001 which took him to multiple countries, including Venezuela, Germany, France and Japan. He then spent five years at Beacon Communications in Japan, a Leo Burnett, Dentsu and Publicis joint venture, where he served as CCO for three years until being promoted to managing director.

Lopez is a digital native with particular passion and interest in new tech trends in mobile, interactive retail, and big data. He decided to explore diverse creative fields, from digital movie studios to tech startups all in pursuit of innovation. He has received creative accolades from major international and Japanese award shows including Cannes Lions and the ACC in Japan.

Rob Reilly, McCann global creative chairman, commented, “Japan is a major focus for us. Alex has the depth, knowledge and creative chops that we need to strengthen our creative leadership in Japan. I have tremendous confidence in him and all of the ECDs that we will continue to push forward with urgency.”

Lopez said: “I am truly excited to return to Japan and join MWG combining my past global and Japan experience with my last 10 years of living in the digital frontier. I am committed to creating new tools, resources and talent from one of the most exciting places on the planet, and with some of the most talented and gracious people I have had the good fortune to know.”