Campbell Ewald Celebrates New Downtown Detroit Headquarters

DETROIT (WWJ) A historic advertising firm is planning to settle into new digs in downtown Detroit, with Campbell-Ewald revealing it will relocate its new headquarters from Warren to an open office space inside Ford Field.

Campbell Ewald CEO Bill Ludwig said the move was driven in part by the young, vibrant creative vibe going on in downtown Detroit. He was also moved by the open space in the old Hudson's warehouse adjacent to Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.

Lions President Tom Lewand agrees they'll make good neighbors.

"It's a far different story that we tell in our city now than we did five or 10 years ago," Lewand said. "At the Lions, when we go out recruiting there was one story that we had to tell about Detroit to 20-year-olds and we don't have to tell that story now, they know about Detroit, they know about Detroit's great reputation among young people."

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said he was "very excited," C-E is bringing its 600 workers downtown. But there's one person who's not overjoyed about the firm's move from the suburbs to the city -- the mayor of Warren, Jim Fouts.

Fouts has said he was blindsided by the decision to leave Warren.

What will happen to the old headquarters?

"Some people will remain there, and we'll market the building," Ludwig said, adding they're in discussions right now about possible tax breaks for locating to Detroit.