William Whitehead

In his 26 years as a Bates executive, Bill Whitehead has mastered virtually every facet of agency operations. Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Bates North America, Bill is responsible for overseeing the company's offices in the United States and Canada.



Bill began his association with Bates in Toronto, where he served as Bates Canada's President and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, General Manager before being named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bates Canada. Incredibly, Bill still found time to teach advertising management at the prestigious Institute of Canadian Advertising for several years.



In May 1994, Bill was named the Executive Vice President, Executive Director of Worldwide Client Services for Bates Worldwide, and directed international business development: he served concurrently as Bates Worldwide's Regional Director of Latin American operations. Bill became Chief Operating Officer of Bates North America in December 1994, and was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Bates USA the following year. He assumed his present position as Chief Executive Officer of Bates North America in July 1996.



Bill lives in New York and, in his rare spare time, indulges two passions: Hockey (a throwback to his Canadian days), and horses (Bill and his horse Barney compete regularly in equestrian events). Bill's record of leadership is vital to our enduring Client relationships, our new business success, and the continuation of the Bates tradition of strategically based creativity. With his wide-ranging experience and expertise, Bill eagerly embraces the task of leading the cornerstone division of Bates Worldwide into the next millennium.