Maedel, who currently holds the title of president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will become global president, while Bob Jeffrey, president of North America, will become worldwide chief executive.
The promotions come as current CEO and president Peter Schweitzer, aged 65, steps down from the day-to-day running of the WPP Group-owned agency. He will spend the next year as chairman of JWT, while Burt Manning retains his title of chairman emeritus.
Both Maedel and Jeffrey will continue to oversee their respective regions. Maedel will also take responsibility for Asia Pacific, while Jeffrey adds Latin America to his role. Jeffrey has been earmarked to fill Schweitzer's shoes since he was named as the president for North America in 2001.
Maedel, an Austrian who has a degree in economics from the University of Vienna, has been involved in some of the agency's biggest and most recent account wins, including last year's effort that saw it named as one of two agencies on the global $800m (拢503.2m) Reckitt-Benckiser account, as well as winning Vodafone.
He started his career in advertising in 1972 when he joined Young & Rubicam Frankfurt as a trainee. He became part of JWT when he joined Thompson Germany as CEO in 1990.
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