Cathy Butler Named CEO of the Barbarian Group

NEW YORK, April 3, 2017 — The Barbarian Group announced today that Cathy Butler, previously EVP, Group Director at DigitasLBi, has been named CEO, effective immediately.

An award-winning marketer and technology expert, Butler assumes the role from interim CEO Aaron Lau who will transition to Cheil’s President of International/CEO North America.

“I am delighted to welcome Cathy to our Barbarian family at this important time as we reinvent ourselves,” said Lau. “We, as Barbarians, have always been a challenger, dating back to our earlier work around interactive video and AR. There has never been a more important time to pair creativity with technology, as the marketing landscape continues to evolve. I know the Barbarian vision is even more relevant today as marketers look for innovation and creativity to stay relevant to the agile consumers of the 21st century. As one of the best and brightest minds transforming the marketing world, Cathy shares our vision.I look forward to supporting and working with her and The Barbarian Group to ‘invade the internet’ with pervasive thinking.”

“I have always admired The Barbarian Group and am excited to lead the agency in its next evolution,” said Butler. “Barbarians have a history of challenging the status quo. It’s a great opportunity to bring this thinking to marketers today and demonstrate how we build brands at the speed of culture.”

Butler, 42, brings more than 20 years of experience developing marketing programs for global brands, including Johnson & Johnson, Barnes & Noble, Neutrogena, Nestlé Waters, IKEA, Pitney Bowes and Whole Foods. At DigitasLBi, she led organic and new business for the agency’s digital products offerings.

Earlier, she served as SVP, Group Account Director for their New York and Atlanta offices. She began her career as a producer, creating first-generation platforms for Condé Nast/Epicurious, The New York Times and IKEA USA.

About The Barbarian Group
Barbarian is a digital agency all about internet culture, technology and storytelling. You’ll find us wherever those interests intersect. We’ve been invading the internet since 2001 and are proud to be the inaugural Grand Prix winner of the 2013 Innovation Cannes Lion.

Media Contact:
Janet Northen
919.313.4062
[email protected]