Jon Cook

For more than 26 years, Jon has been key contributor at VML — now VMLY&R — and he led the launch of the combined agency as global CEO in 2018. VMLY&R is a global marketing force with more than 13,000 employees in 44 countries; principal office locations include Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. Jon is a member of the WPP Executive Committee.

Prior to leading VMLY&R, Jon served as VML’s global CEO from 2011 to 2018. He joined the agency in 1996, and during his tenure, VML grew from 30 employees in Kansas City, Missouri, to more than 3,000 employees across six continents. Jon helped lead the agency to Ad Age A-List honors from 2016 to 2018.

Today, VMLY&R is proud to serve some of the world's most recognized and respected brands, including Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Danone, Dell, Ford, Intel, Microsoft, New Balance, Pfizer, Sherwin-Williams, United Rentals, U.S. Navy, and Wendy’s.

In 2022, Jon led VMLY&R to widespread recognition, including being named in the top three North American networks at Cannes and among the top three most effective agency networks in the U.S. by the Effies. VMLY&R was also named NY Festivals North American Agency of the Year in partnership with the DE&I Advisory Board and was named one of the top three Best Places to Work in Advertising & Marketing by LinkedIn. VMLY&R Commerce was named Agency of the Year at the Drum Awards Festival.

The agency has repeatedly been recognized by Forrester and Gartner for leadership and expertise in global marketing, digital experiences, commerce services, and customer experience strategy consulting practices. In 2021, Jon led VMLY&R to Ad Age A-List recognition. The agency was also recognized as Network Agency of the Year by the Drum and Creative Network of the Year by Campaign. Jon was a finalist for the Drum 2021 CEO of the Year and Campaign US 2019 Advertising Agency Head of the Year. 

Jon graduated from the University of Missouri in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In 2018, Jon delivered the commencement address at the Missouri School of Journalism graduation ceremony. He relishes spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their three daughters. The family especially enjoys hiking together.