Beloved Creative Leader Ari Weiss Dies at 46

BBH, DDB vet launched a new venture last year

Ari Weiss, one of the industry’s most honored and beloved creative execs, fêted for dynamic campaigns that drove brand engagement on the national stage and beyond, died Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 46.

After stints at Goodby Silverstein & Partners and Wieden+Kennedy, Weiss helmed BBH’s creative department for several years before joining DDB, where he ultimately served as global CCO. In 2024, he formed his own shop, Quality Experience (aka QX), which launched notable work for Tonal and Shutterfly.

In an era of hyper-targeting and niche appeal, Weiss often thought big—really big—making a splash across the cultural landscape for McDonald’s, Starburst, Volkswagen and many more.

His most famous effort in this vein was Skittles’ 2019 Super Bowl Sunday extravaganza. Rather than run a spot in the Big Game, the brand staged a cheeky, one-night-only Broadway musical that generated weeks of buzz and copious kudos. This initiative codified the trend of creating multifaceted SB marketing events, with FanDuel and CeraVe following suit in recent years.

On LinkedIn, Weiss’ QX colleagues praised his “unwavering passion, ambition and relentless pursuit of excellence,” and said they were “so grateful to have been able to go on the journey” of building a new venture.

DDB Worldwide chairman emeritus Keith Reinhard remembered Weiss fondly:

“Ari never failed to inspire. I was inspired by his passion for our industry and our company. I was inspired by his pattern-breaking work for our clients, including the sold-out Broadway musical for Skittles that Ari conceived and produced for Super Bowl Sunday in 2019.”

“But what inspired me most was his bravery. Even in the face of his toughest battle, with quiet resolve, he carried on—creating award-winning work, leading DDB creative teams across the globe, and playing pivotal roles in industry events,” Reinhard said.

“Our thoughts are with Ari’s family, friends, colleagues and everyone who had the chance to work with him. His impact was immeasurable, and his legacy will forever remain a part of the DDB story.”

Amir Farhang and others paid moving tribute on AdAge.

Weiss is survived by his wife Dara and their children, Layla, Luca and Lev, among other family members.