DDB Worldwide has promoted Bob Scarpelli to worldwide chief creative officer, a new position at the New York-based agency network.

Scarpelli will retain his title of chairman of DDB Chicago. There are no plans at this time to name a successor to the U.S. chief creative post.

He began his career at Needham Harper in 1977 as a copywriter and was promoted to creative director in 1980. Following that agency's merger with DDB in 1986, he was elevated in 1987 to group creative director and in 1990 to executive creative director of DDB Chicago. In 1994, he was named CCO of DDB Chicago and in February 1995 he added the title of vice chairman, DDB Chicago. In 2000, he was promoted to U.S. CCO and a year later added the title of chairman, DDB Chicago.

Scarpelli currently serves on the executive committees of both the Chicago Creative Club and Governing Board of the Chicago International Film Festival; he also sits on the boards of The Off the Street Club and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.