Coca-Cola Exec Kevin Keith Splits for JWT Atlanta

kevinkeith

After spending the last four years as group director/integrated content marketing at Coca-Cola, Kevin Keith has headed back to the agency side, joining up with JWT’s Atlanta office as director of planning. Keith has taken over for Michael Deszo as of this week and will report to the agency office’s president/CCO, Perry Fair. During his time on the client side, Keith led brand strategy and integrated marketing communications on both Coke and Sprite. Regarding his meeting with Fair and the JWT Atlanta crew, which works on clients including the U.S. Marine Corps, Shell, Transamerica and Quaker State, Keith says in a statement, ““I was introduced to Perry when he joined JWT Atlanta and have followed his accomplishments and work over the past two years. The extensive technology capabilities at JWT and the supporting infrastructure to propel creative ideas into business solutions for clients made the agency very attractive for me, and I’m excited to see what we can invent together.”

During his previous stints in ad land, Keith worked on the account side at the likes of Draftfcb, Lowe and Hal Riney & Partners.

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JWT ATL, Wicker Part Ways

We’ve been hearing about this since last Friday, and now it appears to be so as sources familiar with the matter confirm that JWT has parted ways with Lynda Wicker, who has spent well over a decade serving as human resources director at the agency. Wicker has worked out of the WPP-owned agency’s Atlanta office and we’ve been told that there are plans to replace he (as one would think). From what we’re hearing, JWT ATL/Houston/Dallas chief creative officer Perry Fair is addressing staff regarding Wicker’s departure, which goes into effect today. We’ll let you know if and when we hear more.

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Wettstein Out at JWT ATL

We’ve received confirmation that Tim Wettstein, who has been with JWT’s Atlanta office for just a year, is no longer with the agency. During his brief stint at the agency, where he most recently served as senior partner/group creative director, Wettstein served as GCD on efforts including Scana Energy’s “Affairs of the Flame” campaign as well as work for Jiffy Lube, XBOX and Gillette. Prior to JWT, Wettstein spent four years at BBDO New York, where he worked with brands including PETA and Autism Speaks. Here’s one example of his work for the former client here.

Above, you’ll see Wettstein to your left along with JWT ATL CCO Perry Fair and Dana Markee, the last of whom was cut last summer. We’re hearing they were among Fair’s first new hires when he took over as president/CCO at JWT’s Atlanta/Dallas/Houston offices in 2011.

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Our SXSWi Begins with Revelry in JWT’s Turf

Yeah, the time change didn’t work in our favor,  but yes kids, we are here and broadcasting as well as we can. After flight delays and getting our badge just in the nick of time last night before the Austin Convention Center shut down, we hit up the JWT party at Lustre Pearl. Following a brief encounter down the street with a very cordial Alex Jones, who was doing his usual ranting and raving fresh off a protest downtown, we ventured down Driskill and encountered the homely spot, Lustre Pearl, where JWT played host to the band, Walk Off the Earth (below). Gotye cover aside, we were not so enthused with the multi-instrumental act, which sounded like a jam-band version of Arcade Fire, if that’s possible.

Nevertheless, talking shit with industry heads and all the JWT top brass including Jeff BenjaminMauro Cavelletti and Perry Fair, the last of whom is promoting the agency’s pop-up shop, Walter, was fine enough. Besides, don’t tell me you wouldn’t dance like an idiot in a sea of fog to Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” if you didn’t just retain a major client. We will be hitting up Draftfcb, Crowdtap and Barbarian events tonight and will promptly be in bed my midnight. But we’ll talk to you beforehand with some panel thoughts.

 

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