CBA announced two strategic appointments to its Paris office: Ricardo Oliveira has been named Executive Creative Director, and Gabriel Collins joins as Strategy Director.
These hires mark a pivotal moment in the development of CBA Paris, as we create a new global branding network –the antidote to the traditional monolithic approaches- born from the strategic union of CBA and Coley Porter Bell.
Gabriel and Ricardo will help us to fulfil our ambition to be strategic in our creative and creative in our strategy, and to unearth the unordinary ideas that make brands sticky and memorable and fuel brand growth.
We are thrilled to welcome Ricardo and Gabriel. Their complementary talents will enrich our offering and enable us to even better support our clients in creating iconic, enduring, and future-oriented brands, as well as in delivering creative strategy and strategic creative.
With Cécile Ayed’s appointment as Group President last January, CBA positions itself as a new model, combining “Big agency capability” –with access to global data, cutting-edge technologies, AI expertise via WPP Open AI, and the strength of 9 international studios including Coley Porter Bell– and a “Small agency feel” –an entrepreneurial spirit, agile teams, close collaboration, and a tailor-made approach. This agility, particularly stemming from the network’s experience in constantly evolving markets like Latin America and Asia, allows CBA to offer global branding solutions with strong local relevance and resonance, supporting both global brands and “local jewels”.
The arrival of Ricardo and Gabriel in Paris is a critical part of strengthening our unique offer: a vibrant collective of 9 studios, entrepreneurial at heart, and backed by WPP’s global reach. We bring globally recognized branding expertise as well as a unique positioning – delivering the power of a large network with the agility and proximity that comes with a smaller agency. This is the antidote to traditional monolithic agencies, and it’s what enables us to unleash Unordinary Ideas for our clients.
With over 20 years of international branding experience, Ricardo Oliveira has shaped iconic brands for clients such as Nestlé, Unilever, and Pernod Ricard. Having previously served as Creative Director at CBA for nearly 8 years, he brings an in-depth knowledge of the group’s ecosystem.
His career, marked by experiences in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the United States, provides him with unique “cultural fluency”. At CBA Paris, he will lead the creative vision to elevate standards of excellence and develop memorable brand experiences that transcend conventions and are deeply rooted in cultures.
I am delighted to rejoin CBA in this new role in Paris. I am excited about creating unordinary ideas that resonate, differentiate and endure. I am eager to collaborate with the teams in Paris and beyond to push the boundaries of creativity and work differently to serve our clients.
A recognized expert in brand strategy, innovation, and consumer insights, Gabriel Collins has held key positions, notably as Head of Innovation at Boundless Brand Design and Strategy Director at Bulletproof. His expertise focuses on understanding the motivations that drive individuals. His appointment strengthens CBA’s ability to develop brand strategies rooted in human behaviour and culture. Gabriel will be deeply involved in the application of CBA’s proprietary AI-Ethnography, combining the expertise of its ethnography strategists with the power of artificial intelligence for unparalleled insights.
The success of brands today depends on their ability to understand and authentically engage with their audiences. CBA’s curiosity about people, culture and what truly motivates them, reinforced by innovative tools like AI-Ethnography and the power of the new network, offers a tremendous opportunity to build strategies that generate genuine connections. I am excited about bringing my expertise in innovation and insights to this new network.
At CBA, we believe in the power of design to spark connection, transform brands, and shape meaningful experiences.
If you’re ready to bring your brand vision to life, get in touch with us.
We’d love to spark Unordinary Ideas together.