McCann Worldgroup Philippines CEO takes early retirement

She leaves the agency after 24 years, first joining in 1986 as VP-CFO where she was responsible for overseeing McCann's finance and administrative service functions. She served various functions and worked her way to the top, being appointed CEO in 2002. Last year, she was appointed chairman of the board, underscoring McCann Worldgroup Philippines' pivotal role in the continued growth of Southeast Asia markets in the global McCann network. 

With Arches' retirement, McCann Worldgroup Philippines hands over its leadership management reins to incumbent MWG chief creative officer Raul Castro and current McCann Erickson managing director Nandy Villar. Castro takes up the position of executive chairman and chief creative officer, while Villar was appointed MWG president and chief operating officer.

In his new role, Villar is responsible for taking MWG's multi-discipline solutions to the next level - transforming brands and growing client's businesses with increased accountability. He has been McCann Erickson's managing director since 2006, and throughout his 19 year career at the agency, he has worked with clients such as Coca-Cola, San Miguel Beer, L'Oreal, Jollibee, Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Commenting on Arches' decision to step down, Charles Cadell, McCann Worldgroup regional managing director for Southeast Asia and Australia, noted, “I am immensely proud of what Ricki has achieved for McCann Worldgroup in her 24 years with us, and especially over the last eight years as president and CEO. She has built McCann into the powerhouse it is today and so allows Raul and Nandy to step on the shoulders of a giant, taking us into the next chapter of the McCann Worldgroup Philippine story.”

Arches, meanwhile is bullish on the new leadership team. “I am confident I have laid down necessary infrastructure and built the right management team to ensure McCann’s continued business success long into the future. The new batch of leaders is prime and ready to move to the next level and actively pursue game-changing strategies,” she adds.