Campbell Mithun picks Fallon exec as CEO

Minneapolis ad agency Campbell Mithun has named rival Fallon executive Rob Buchner as its new boss.

Buchner will succeed Campbell Mithun CEO Steve Wehrenberg, who is leaving Campbell Mithun after 31 years to teach at the University of Minnesota.

The move also will pit Buchner vs. Buchner.

Rob Buchner has been the chief marketing officer at Fallon since 2004 and an employee since 1989.

Mike Buchner, who also started at Fallon in 1989, is the CEO of Fallon.

Rob Buchner was flying late Wednesday to New York to visit executives of Interpublic Group, which owns Campbell Mithun.

"Campbell Mithun offers clients a great business platform for these times — a perfect balance of strategic rigor and smart, populist creative and media work," Rob Buchner said in a prepared statement. "The agency is poised for growth."

Mike Buchner told Advertising Age earlier in the day: "My brother has been preparing for a CEO job his entire career. No one could be happier for him than me. He'll bring great passion, energy and experience to Campbell Mithun in this new role."

Rob Buchner, who worked several years at Campbell Mithun before joining Fallon, has worked just about every agency job except CEO, including account executive and launching a digital practice.

Said Wehrenberg of Rob Buchner: "He's got the right combination of world-class brand-building experience, energy and an integrated mind-set to lead the agency into the future."

Ad Age estimates Campbell Mithun's 2012 revenue at $46 million, making it the third-largest Twin Cities agency. Fallon ranks fifth at $40 million.

Neal St. Anthony • 612-673-7144