Hasta La Creative!

Y&R officially launched its new Memphis office yesterday with a grand opening and ribbon cutting co-sponsored by the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

Y&R Memphis was created to service the agency’s United States Navy account under The Navy Partnership, which also includes ML, Wunderman, Burson-Marsteller, MEC and Uniworld. Fifty professionals from the area were hired to work on the Navy account. The U.S. Navy named Y&R its lead agency in May of 2015, following a review. 

“We’re thrilled to be the first global advertising agency to have a presence in Memphis,” said Y&R global CEO David Sable in a statement. “Working across our partner agencies and establishing ourselves within close proximity to the Navy’s headquarters will allow us to deliver the full power, resources and marketing expertise of our global network to Memphis and the greater Mid-South region. We’re so excited to finally be here.”

The office will be led by managing director Ken Dowling, who also serves as global client leader on Y&R’s Navy account and will lead business development at Y&R Memphis. Dowling will partner with executive creative director Ryan Blum, who recently joined the agency from Publicis Seattle.

Blum spent around a year and a half as a creative director with Publicis Seattle, following two years as a group creative direcor at TraceyLocke and three as a creative director before that. Prior to joining TraceyLocke in 2010, he spent two years as a copywriter with The Richards Group, after beginning his career by spending six years as a copywriter with TraceyLocke. Over the course of his career he has worked with brands including T-Mobile, Samsung and 7-Eleven.

“This is such a proud day for Y&R,” Dowling said. “We’re extremely excited to officially open our doors in Memphis, a thriving city. With Ryan on board, and with the help of our partner companies, we know we will do great things here as we build on the revitalization already taking place, and hope to become a part of the long-term success of the Memphis community.”

Well, WPP-owned Y&R New York has stuck to its guns and as noted back at the end of 2011, the agency is officially making its move to Columbus Circle on Monday, thus saying goodbye to Madison Ave, where it’s resided for the last 87 (!) years.

The agency’s global CEO David Sable (who you see above christening Y&R Way) has this to say in a statement: “This is a historic day. But Madison Avenue is a state of mind, not a state of place. Today, the Northeast corner of 40^th street and Madison Avenue is Young & Rubicam Way. And the 285 Marquee is coming with us and will adorn the café in our new space. Since 1926, we have been definers of the best of the innovation of Madison Avenue – creative leaders, business shapers, inventors, innovators. We look forward to continuing that innovative, entrepreneurial spirit by creating Madison Avenue West in a new state-of-the art work environment that has been designed to accommodate who we are and how we work in the epicenter of New York City, the greatest media town in the world.”

As mentioned previously, the Y&R space at 3 Columbus Circle will not only occupy said agency, but WPP siblings including Wunderman, VML, Blast Radius, BrandBuzz, Bravo, Kang & Lee, KBM Group and ZAAZ.

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