NEW YORK — Ogilvy has named longtime McCann leader Devika Bulchandani as CEO of Ogilvy North America, reinstating a role that’s been dormant since John Seifert stepped down from the position to become the agency’s global chief executive in 2016.

Bulchandani, who has also been named global chairwoman of advertising, joins after more than two decades with McCann Worldgroup, where she most recently served as that agency’s North America president.  Before that, she served as managing director of global strategy and chief strategy officer.

Bulchandani will oversee all aspects of Ogilvy’s core business across the US and Canada including PR & influence, advertising, brand & content, experience, growth & innovation and health.

“Dev is a leader with relentless drive, a sharp understanding of our clients’ rapidly evolving needs, and an undeniable track record of using creativity as a catalyst for growth,” said Andy Main, the former Deloitte Digital exec who became global CEO last summer when Seifert announced his retirement.  “With Dev leading our teams across North America, I’m confident that Ogilvy will be strongly positioned to deliver the ideas our clients need to create giant value for their businesses at speed and scale.”

Ogilvy has also launched a search for a new global head of PR, the likes of which the agency hasn’t had since Stuart Smith departed nearly two years ago.

That search also comes at the direction of Main, who has made bolstering the firm’s PR business among his priorities. One of the key tasks for a new PR leader will be rebuilding momentum for the division in North America.

Bulchandani, meantime, said she is “invigorated” by the opportunity to help shape Ogilvy’s future. “At this time of immense change, I look forward to harnessing the creative brilliance and diverse expertise of Ogilvy's global network to solve problems and create lasting value for clients,” she said.