Norman Rigg  Associate

Norman Rigg is a 40-year marketing and advertising executive with a distinguished career at major global corporations, as well as marketing communications and advertising agencies. His agency experience includes management of global client relationships and a combined 12 years as CEO of DDB Canada and Anderson DDB, as well as senior management roles at J. Walter Thompson, JWT Direct and Ted Bates.

Norm was Managing Director of DDB Worldwide Global Clients, Asia/Pacific Region where he managed global client relationships, including McDonald’s, Johnson & Johnson, Anheuser-Busch, ExxonMobil, Michelin and Volkswagen. Prior to his international role, he was Chairman and CEO of DDB Group Canada. He spearheaded the acquisition of Palmer Jarvis and its merger with DDB Canada, and established DDB Group Canada as one of the top five leading integrated marketing communications agencies.

He began his career with Procter & Gamble and then held marketing and sales management positions at P&G and Bayer companies. In 1977, Norman transitioned to advertising with Ted Bates and then with J. Walter Thompson where he later became the General Manager of JWT Direct, comprised of the agency’s retail advertising, direct response, promotions and corporate sponsorship divisions. In 1988, Norman was appointed President and CEO of Anderson Advertising. He was actively involved in healthcare and lifestyle marketing for Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, the Government of Ontario and agencies like the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. In 1993, Norman and his partners brought Anderson into DDB Worldwide.

Norm has lectured at Seneca College, York University’s Schulich School of Business, as well as Schulich’s Master’s Certificate in Marketing Communications Program on “Management of the Agency Relationship”. He has served as a Director of the Toronto East General Hospital and has been a Vice-President of Big Brothers of Metro Toronto.