Currently the vice-president at BBH, Murphy will report to Bob Jeffrey, the network's chairman and chief executive. He will also work with Craig Davis, the chief creative officer. Jeffrey said the appointment reflected JWT's need to "reclaim our planning leadership on a worldwide level".
Based in London, Murphy's main task will be to offer global leadership and cohesion to all of the network's planning departments. He will also be a practising planner and will work across many of JWT's global accounts.
Murphy said: "There is a fabulously compelling planning heritage at JWT."
Murphy began his career at BMP in 1987 where he trained in account planning. In 1992 he moved to BBH. Since then, he has held various positions, including the head of planning for Asia-Pacific.