D&AD has announced the appointment of David Patton as chief executive officer.

The announcement comes after Dara Lynch stepped down last September, marking the end of an eighteen-year tenure with the organisation. Patton will take up the role later this month.

Most recently, Patton served as CEO of visual effects and animation studio, Jellyfish Pictures.

Over the course of his career, he has held a number of senior leadership roles including European vice president of marketing at Sony PlayStation and senior vice president of marketing for Sony Europe (Sony Electronics).

Patton also led creative agencies such as Grey and Young & Rubicam, The Mill, and MPC Advertising.

Tim Lindsay, D&AD chairperson said: “David's remarkable career has been the perfect preparation for running D&AD. He's championed creative excellence and built environments for it to thrive wherever he's been. And at a time when the industry is experiencing seismic changes, his record of setting high creative standards, nurturing creative talent, supporting creative learning and setting himself new challenges will help propel D&AD into a bright future.”

Lisa Smith, D&AD president and uncommon global chief design officer, said: “What matters most is the quality of the work we choose to stand behind. That principle has guided this appointment, and in David I see a leader with the judgement and ambition to uphold those standards. Just as importantly, he shares our belief in building the next generation of talent, supporting emerging creatives through both traditional and non-traditional pathways, and creating an environment where people at every stage of their career can continue to learn, grow and do the best work of their lives.”

Patton stated: “Having worked across agencies and in-house teams, I’ve seen first-hand that creative excellence is shaped by the whole industry, from emerging talent to global creative organisations. As the industry continues to evolve, D&AD will play a vital role in supporting talent and setting the standards that drive creative excellence forward."

He added, "Programmes such as Shift, New Blood and D&AD’s learning initiatives are vital in opening up the industry and nurturing the next generation of creative talent. I’m excited to build on D&AD’s legacy of championing creative excellence and continuing to push the boundaries of what our industry can achieve.”