Wieden+Kennedy verandert eigen organisatiestructuur

Met de 35e verjaardag van Wieden+Kennedy op komst (in april 2017), zagen global president Dave Luhr en global CCO Colleen DeCourcy de noodzaak om de bureauleiding aan te passen aan de toekomst. Ze hebben vijftien leden toegevoegd aan de huidige negenkoppige partnergroep, die voortaan 'Wieden+Kennedy Stakeholders' zal worden genoemd.

'Our current nine-person partner group is based on a model we’ve outgrown', zegt Luhr, verwijzend naar een uitgebouwde W+K-netwerk met inmiddels acht kantoren in Amsterdam, Delhi, London, New York, Portland, Sao Paulo, Shanghai en Tokyo. 'That group doesn’t reflect the breadth of perspective and skills we want to see in the next generation of leaders, and the next, and the next. Given the size and complexity of the agency, we need more decision-makers representing more offices, more disciplines and different voices. Our leadership needs to be a bigger and better reflection of the agency we have become.'

Creatief leiderschap

Het in 1982 opgerichte bureau van Dan Wieden en David Kennedy profileert zich altijd al als onafhankelijk en met uitgesproken werk. Met de stakeholder-groep moet dat creatieve leiderschap ook in de toekomst verder worden uitgebouwd.

'We are focused on making work that is culturally relevant and influential, and that lives across more places and channels', zegt DeCourcy. 'We are rethinking what 'work' is, embarking on unexpected collaborations, and seeking to grow in interesting, smart ways. This group is charged with pushing us further down these roads and others we haven’t even considered.' In addition to making extraordinary work, this group exhibits, in abundance, qualities valued by W+K: creativity, inspiration, collaboration, leadership, vision and passion. They are leaders, focused on growing opportunities for the next generation of this place.'

De 'stakeholder-groep van W+K is als volgt samengesteld (nieuwe leden met ster):

• Dan Wieden, Founder, Global Chairman
• Dave Luhr, Global President
• Colleen DeCourcy, Global Chief Creative Officer
• Claudia Valderrama, Chief Financial Officer *
• Kim Papworth, Executive Creative Director of Emerging Markets *
• Karrelle Dixon, Director of Emerging Markets *
• Neil Christie, Managing Director, W+K London
• Tony Davidson, Executive Creative Director, W+K London
• Iain Tait, Executive Creative Director, W+K London
• Paul Colman, Chief Strategy Officer, W+K London *
• Helen Andrews, Deputy Managing Director, W+K London * 
• Neal Arthur, Managing Director, W+K New York
• Karl Lieberman, Executive Creative Director, W+K New York *
• Susan Hoffman, Executive Creative Director, W+K Portland
• Tom Blessington, Managing Director, W+K Portland
• Mark Fitzloff, Executive Creative Director, W+K Portland
• Joe Staples, Executive Creative Director, W+K Portland *
• David Terry, Director of Strategic Planning, W+K Portland * 
• Alberto Ponte, Global Creative Director on Nike, W+K Portland *
• Daniel Sheniak, Global Comms Director on Nike, W+K Portland *
• Jessica Monsey, Group Account Director/Director of Publishing, W+K Portland *
• Andre Gustavo, Managing Director, W+K Sao Paulo *
• Eric Quennoy, Executive Creative Director, W+K Amsterdam * 
• Mark Bernath, Executive Creative Director, W+K Amsterdam * 

The agency also announced that Kim Papworth and Karrelle Dixon have been appointed to oversee the company’s emerging markets, in new roles as Executive Creative Director, Emerging Markets and Managing Director, Emerging Markets, respectively. Reporting directly into Luhr and DeCourcy, Dixon and Papworth will be based in London while spending time in W+K’s Tokyo, Shanghai and Delhi offices.

“Along with our creativity and independence, the W+K network is a key strength of this agency. Our offices in Tokyo, Shanghai and Delhi are well positioned for future growth. Allowing Kim and Karrelle to focus on these markets will help drive that momentum even quicker,” said Luhr.

Previously, Dixon was the Global Account Director for the agency’s largest (and foundational) account, Nike, based in Portland, OR. Karrelle joined W+K London in 2006 as an account manager on Nike and other agency brands. 

Papworth was Executive Creative Director for W+K London for 15 years, during which the agency created celebrated campaigns for Nike, Honda and Nokia, amongst others.

“These two are the best example of W+K’s belief in the power of partnership. Karrelle’s incredible energy and curious mind are perfectly met by Kim’s quiet power and indelible legacy of timeless creative work. I’ve got high expectations. It’s going to be fun to watch,” DeCourcy commented.

Founder and Chairman Dan Wieden says, “I am so damn proud of this place. We started as a ship of fools, and that, I quite firmly believe is why we have succeeded for almost 35 years. But I really never thought we would be talking about the next 35. The hope is always that the next generation does better than the one before them. I think under the leadership of Dave and Colleen, and this inspiring group of new stakeholders, we just might be onto something."