Mar 11

Robinson Joins Up with Kay at Zeus Jones

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Well, we’ll be damned, got some tips late yesterday on this one but still worth mentioning, in case you haven’t heard, that former AKQA San Francisco executive creative director, Neil Robinson, has joined up with Goodby alum Gareth Kay as a founding partner at fellow SF operation, Zeus Jones (which also has a Minneapolis office).  It didn’t long for Robinson to change shops as we reported just less than a week ago that he left his ECD gig at AKQA, where he spent nearly two decades, first in London then the last 10 years in San Francisco. Kay himself, meanwhile, just joined seven-year-old Zeus Jones a few months ago after spending well over four years at GS&P.

Kay writes, among other things, on the official Zeus Jones site: “I can’t wait to get to work with Neil and to start building a creative company for the modern age from the ground up – a skunkworks that challenges marketing as usual. I thought I’d ask Neil to write a few words about why he’s excited by this opportunity.” Robinson and Kay are pictured, l-r apparently on a ledge  with the San Francisco skyline serving as backdrop, above. Zeus Jones has worked with the likes of Purina, Betty Crocker and Nordstrom over the years.

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Dec 03

Gareth Kay Leaves Goodby

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garethkayAfter spending four-and-a-half years at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Gareth Kay has parted ways with the agency. Kay initially joined Goodby from the now-defunct Modernista!  in summer 2009 as director of digital strategy, eventually moving up a year later to associate partner/director of brand strategy to finally his most recent role as chief strategy officer at the San Francisco-based agency. Kay has informed us that yesterday was his last day at GS&P, and though he won’t reveal specifics on his next venture (as it’s in “stealth mode”), here’s a note that Goodby managing partner Derek Robson sent to staff last month that should give you perhaps a little idea:

“It’s with a heavy heart that I have to announce that Gareth Kay has decided to leave the agency.  He is off to start a new company that focuses on the stuff that he is personally most passionate about and which is not part of the advertising agency world.  He’ll be leaving us later this month.

Gareth joined GS&P in 2009 as the Director of Digital Strategy and from the very start; he challenged the agency to think beyond the traditional definitions of advertising.

In September 2011, he was promoted to Chief Strategy Officer and since then he has helped evolve the Strategy discipline here at the agency as well as the day-to-day running of the department. Under his leadership, the agency continued it’s impressive streak of Effie award wins – 51 Effie awards for our work for 35 different clients over the past 15 years.

Beyond all the good work that Gareth has done for our clients and within the agency he has also become one of the most well respected thought leaders in the business, speaking at events around the world.  He has been a tireless advocate for the agency for the past four years.

We thank him, we will miss him, and we wish him well in his new endeavor.

We will not be replacing the Chief Strategy Officer position.  Our strategy leadership is in the capable hands of [Head of Brand Strategy] Andy Grayson, [Director of Communication Strategy] Christine Chen and [Group Research and Analytics Director] Margaret Coles.

Derek”

Along with his six-year stint at Modernista!, where he last served as head of planning, Kay also held planning positions at Lowe and TBWA during his career.

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May 13

Adams Jr. Succeeds Hughes as Head of VCU Brandcenter Board

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And now, a bit of news news. The baton has officially been passed from one Martin Agency exec to another as the Richmond, VA operation’s chairman John B. Adams Jr. is taking over for longtime friend and colleague, Martin president Mike Hughes, as head of the VCU Brandcenter’s Board of Directors, which includes other notable names such as David Droga and Bob Greenberg Hughes, who you’re probably aware is battling cancer at the moment, will step down from his VCU leadership position, one he’s held for two decades, and into the role of chairman emeritus with the Brandcenter’s Advisory Board.

In a statement, the outgoing VCU board head says, ““I’m especially proud of my part in helping to bring [Brandcenter director] Helayne [Spivak] and John to these positions. I can’t imagine two better people to lead the changes and advances ahead. The students, faculty and the industry should all feel very good about this. My 34-year partnership with John and my 20-year relationship with the Brandcenter have been two of the highlights of my career. I envy their opportunity to help define the future of this business and the future of advertising and branding education.”

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