22nd August 2011
FITCH’s studios across the USA are all experiencing significant growth – making FITCH Americas the fastest growing region for this global design consultancy. This growth has been fuelled by expanded relationships with existing clients (e.g. Target, The Sports Authority, Fixtures Living, Dell, Buffalo Wild Wings and Microsoft), as well as new client wins (including H&M, Best Buy, Staples, Nickelodeon and AkzoNobel).
FITCH’s studios across the USA are all experiencing significant growth – making FITCH Americas the fastest growing region for this global design consultancy. This growth has been fuelled by expanded relationships with existing clients (e.g. Target, The Sports Authority, Fixtures Living, Dell, Buffalo Wild Wings and Microsoft), as well as new client wins (including H&M, Best Buy, Staples, Nickelodeon and AkzoNobel).
Since January, FITCH has added 36 to its North America talent pool with hires across the US in Seattle, Phoenix and Columbus. Importantly, these hires have spanned all disciplines – Strategy, Graphic/2D Design, Environmental/3D Design, Architecture/Implementation, Client Service, as well as support services – ensuring a full complement of the FITCH offer from strategy/insight through to design, architecture and rollout. “I’m thrilled to have all these world-class professionals join our growing team. Our clients are asking us to help them grow in aggressive and exciting ways, so we’re staffing around those needs,” said Vicky Leavitt, FITCH Managing Director for North America.
Building our Strategy Offer
Under the leadership of Stephen Jay, North America Strategy Director, additions to the FITCH strategy team include Stuart Johnson, Carl Riley, and Adrianne Lambert. Stuart joins FITCH as Strategic Planning Director for the Seattle Studio, having significant ‘blue chip’ strategy and innovation expertise from his previous client-side work at Reebok, Frito-Lay and Starbucks. Carl has previous experience with FITCH London and has more than 10 years of consulting experience on branded-retail strategies for clients such as Wrigley, The Home Depot, Nokia and a number of international organizations like Al Meera Market in Qatar. Adrianne joins FITCH’s Columbus team as a Strategic Planner, having previously been with RIVET Global (Interpublic) in St. Louis, developing shopper-marketing strategies for Johnson & Johnson, Land O’Lakes and Jim Beam.
Creative Additions
Under the leadership of Christian Davies as Executive Creative Director, Americas and Eric Daniel, Creative Director, FITCH’s creative talent has been bolstered with a number of new designers filling out 3D/Environmental and 2D/Graphics roles. Beyond senior creative hires recently announced, new additions include Erin Wilson and Luis Infante in Seattle (both from Callison) and Suling Hsu and Abby Trantina in Columbus. “The trick for us is not merely to find good designers, but to find bold thinkers who can translate those ideas into world-class design,” said Christian Davies. “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to find the elite talent that fits our needs and our unique culture.”
Nurturing Client Relationships
To support FITCH’s growing client relationships, a number of new roles have also been created in Account Management. Amongst these, experienced Client Director Ali Tamblyn, formerly of fellow WPP agency Wunderman, joins the Seattle studio to lead the important and long-held Microsoft account.
Building Architecture, Implementation and Roll-out
In our Phoenix Studio, under the leadership of Larry Stewart, AIA, General Manager, significant new hires have been added to bolster FITCH’s significant expertise in architecture/implementation and roll-out. Amongst these hires, Blair Leach, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP-BD+C, has been appointed Associate Director of Architecture, while Shaun McDonald and Eric Harris both join our leadership team bringing significant grocery experience, including Sprouts Farmers Market and Safeway. FITCH provides architectural services throughout the United States and three Canadian provinces.