Cordner has been co-chairman and executive creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi's Team One Advertising since 1993. Team One is the unit that handles Toyota's luxury car brand Lexus.
While working on Lexus, Cordner came up with the "Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" campaign.
At JWT, he will also take the role of executive creative director of the Detroit office, where the Ford account is based globally.
Michael O'Malley, president of JWT Detroit, said: "A world-class client like Ford deserves a world-class talent. Tom Cordner has said: 'Sophisticated clients go wherever they can find the best thinking, most inventive solutions, the most distinctive work.' He will make JWT Detroit a destination for great ideas and great talent. I know he will be an outstanding partner and a dynamic leader for our creative department."
Ford has advertised its cars with some striking imagery, including the ad for the Puma model starring Steve McQueen and borrowing from his film 'Bullitt'. Earlier this week, Ford announced that it would be pushing one of the marques it owns, Jaguar, at the gay market in the US.
Cordner's 20-year advertising career has seen him do stints at TBWA\Chiat\Day and Ogilvy & Mather Los Angeles. His work has seen him win five Cannes Festival Lions, 12 Clios, three D&AD awards and 12 Andy's.
Ford has had a 60-year partnership with JWT and is the biggest client of the agency, as well as being the biggest client of JWT's parent company WPP.
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