Frank Bodin

Frank Bodin 2021, portrayed as part of his ADC presidency. Photographer: Tobias Stahel

Frank Bodin (born March 29, 1962) is a Swiss advertising executive and Creative director. He is regarded as one of the leading figures in the Swiss advertising industry[1][2][3] and is the author of several books.

Career

Bodin first studied music at the Zurich Conservatory and later law at the University of Zurich. He began his career in 1992 as a copywriter and concept developer at GGK and moved a year later to Aebi/BBDO. In 1994 he gained international attention with the «Cross» campaign for Tibet,[4] later supported by Oliver Stone, Richard Gere, Naomi Campbell, among others. From 1996 to 2001 he was creative director at McCann Erickson Geneva, where he contributed to the agency's turnaround.[5]

As Chairman & CEO[6][7][8] of Euro RSCG, later Havas Switzerland (2001 to 2018), he transformed the group into one of Switzerland's leading large agencies.[9][10] He also held international leadership roles, including restructuring Havas Vienna as CEO (2011 to 2013)[11] and chairing the European and Global Creative Council of the Havas network, operating in 75 countries (2011 to 2016).

Bodin also served as president[12][13][14] of Leading Swiss Agencies (2005 to 2016) and of the Art Directors Club Switzerland (2013 to 2022) and is the only individual to have chaired both associations.[10] He initiated the transformation of the former Bund Schweizer Werbeagenturen (BSW) into today's industry association Leading Swiss Agencies (LSA) and reformed the ADC.

In 2019 he founded bodin.consulting, an internationally active boutique agency for strategy, branding and creative marketing communications.[15]

Board and advisory roles

Bodin is chairman of the board of directors of Furrerhugi AG[16] and serves on several advisory boards,[17] including the SwissMediaForum and the Center for Communication at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration (HWZ).[18][19] He is a trustee of MyHandicap and EnableMe,[20] an ambassador for Cybathlon,[21] and a member of other bodies.

Awards and honors

Frank Bodin receiving the Golden Award Montreux in April 2009.

His work received numerous awards at national and international creative competitions.[22] He was named «Advertiser of the Year»,[23] «Man of the Year» by Havas Europe,[24] and was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.[25]

Personal life

In his youth Bodin performed in concerts in Switzerland and abroad, including a 1979 performance with the World Youth Orchestra conducted by Yehudi Menuhin. In 1980 he won bronze at the Swiss Fencing Championships. From 1989 to 1991 he worked at the Hamburg State Opera as assistant director under Rolf Liebermann. During this time he also gained early experience as an author and as a freelance copywriter and concept developer for advertising agencies.

In 2007, his composition «Momentum» for string orchestra was premiered by the ⠀⠀Zurich Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Muhai Tang at the Tonhalle Zurich. In 2016 «enCore»[26] for large orchestra was premiered by the Orpheum Foundation Orchestra under Howard Griffiths.

He is the author of several books and articles. His book “Do it, with love,” published in 2015, is now in its ninth edition. He also wrote a prominent advertising column for Kult magazine in the 2000s.[27]

Frank Bodin is the father of four children.

Bibliography

  • «Is it Love?» 100 Essential Questions: Verlag Hermann Schmidt (Mainz), 2021, 2. Auflage (ISBN 978-3-87439-962-3)
  • «Do it, with love» 100 Creative Essentials: Verlag Hermann Schmidt (Mainz), 2015, 9. Auflage (ISBN 978-3-87439-870-1)
  • «Katz und aus – Essenzialismen»: Kontrast, 2004 (ISBN 978-3-906729-32-9)
  • «Bilder fürs Ohr – Besser im Radio werben»: IPM, 2003

References

  1. ↑ "Frank Bodin "Der Dirigent"". Seiler's Werbeblog (in German). December 18, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ Patricia Broder (March 29, 2022). ""Meine Kinder sind meine besten Kreationen"". www.blick.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  3. ↑ Marc Tribelhorn (June 18, 2024). Werber Frank Bodin über den woken Zeitgeist, Kreativität und KI. ISSN 0376-6829.
  4. ↑ "Society Of Swiss-tibetan Friendship: "TIBET" Print Ad by Aebi Strebel - AdsSpot Advertising Archive". adsspot.me. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ "McCann Erickson manie l'art du minimalisme et du punch - Le Temps" (in French). May 11, 1998. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "L'homme en vue. Frank Bodin, étoile montante de la publicité - Le Temps" (in French). March 9, 2001. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Euro RSCG Switzerland gewinnt Frank Bodin und Otto Spirig". pressetext. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Frank Bodin wird Chef von EuroRSCG". persoenlich.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ "101 Fragen an Frank Bodin". m&k (in German). June 6, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Redaktion (November 1, 2017). "Frank Bodin | CEO Havas Switzerland - marketing.ch" (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Frank Bodin übernimmt die Euro RSCG Vienna". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  12. ↑ "bsw: Frank Bodin neuer Präsident". persoenlich.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ Marchand, Victoria (May 30, 2013). "ADC Switzerland : Frank Bodin est le nouveau président". Cominmag.ch (in French). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "ADC Schweiz: Frank Bodin neuer Präsident". m&k (in German). May 30, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Starwerber Bodin macht sich selbstständig". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). October 26, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Furrerhugi mit neuem Verwaltungsratspräsidenten". Berner Zeitung (in German). November 30, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  17. ↑ Leutenegger, Daniel. "Swiss Media Forum "vor dem Hintergrund des fundamentalen Medienwandels"" (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Team". SwissMediaForum (in German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Center for Communications HWZ". HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich - fh-hwz.ch (in Swiss High German). Archived from the original on November 11, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Stiftungsrat von MyHandicap". www.enableme.ch (in German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  21. ↑ "CYBATHLON Organisation". cybathlon.com (in German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ AG, VADIAN NET. "Frank Bodin zum Werber des Jahres 2009 gewählt". www.news.ch (in German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  23. ↑ Endlich "Werber des Jahres" - Glanz & Gloria - Play SRF. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via www.srf.ch.
  24. ↑ "Havas Worldwide: Internationale Ehre für Frank Bodin". persoenlich.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  25. ↑ "ADC People". www.adc.ch. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Tonhalle Zürich: Bodin-Werk wird aufgeführt". persoenlich.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ "EURO RSCG: Eine Kultanzeige für's Kult". persoenlich.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
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