This recruitment case study summarises an executive search assignment for a marketing and advertising agency.

Arguably one of the most critical roles for any creative agency. They needed to replace their out going Creative Director, who was off on their next creative adventure. As a result the advertising agency needed to recruit new Creative Leadership.

Not only did the advertising agency want to engage a specialist marketing and advertising recruitment consultancy. They also wanted an executive search firm to evaluate the creative talent pool using head hunting methodology.

So, having previously head hunted a Senior Art Director, from a direct competitor, the agency wanted us to partner them again. This time to head hunt a Creative Director.

The marketing & advertising agency

If you’re from the North of England, then depending which side of the Pennines you’re from, you might say the marketing and advertising agency are based in the Capital of the North. With a team of over 150, the agency are recognised as one of the top creative agencies outside of London.

Under the creative leadership of their out going Creative Director, the agency had seen solid growth. This included their revenue, head count and also the evolution of creative services. Transforming them into an integrated marketing and advertising agency.

Working with leading retailers and consumer brands. The marketing and advertising agency are recognised for crafting creative, award winning B2C above the line marketing and below the line campaigns.

The agency were already on a strong trajectory. However, they wanted to recruit a Creative Director to take them to the next level. Supporting the agency’s further growth. Enhancing their creativity and evolution of integrated services. And additionally to secure their status as the number one creative agency outside of London.

Creative Director recruitment brief

The Creative Director recruitment brief required the ability to lead a large team of talented creatives, designers and creative art workers. Their leadership style would inspire and develop the creative teams talents. Also, the Creative Director would know how develop concepts and craft them into award winning campaigns.

Responsible for the creative positioning, output and for looking for the big opportunities with clients. The Creative Director would also:

• Raise the creative thinking & product of the entire agency
• Develop an integrated approach, for digital & through the line marketing & advertising campaigns
• Present work with a fully thought through case, & be able to adapt presentations to suit different situations
• Inspire people & get buy in to their thinking. This would include both the agency team & clients

The person specification

The person specification required the shortlist to be creative figureheads. Well respected in the creative community. Therefore they’d have an existing high profile, and reputation, as a top Creative Director, in an established well recognised creative agency.

Shortlisted candidates would also have a demonstrable track record of winning creative awards, leading and inspiring highly skilled creative teams. Furthermore, they’d have the gravitas to work within the Senior Leadership Team, and inspire the entire agency to achieve great success.

Experience required

To be considered the following summary of required experience included:

• London agency background
• Award winning Creative Director
• Either Art Director or Copywriting background
• Experience of working at a senior Board level
• Through the line experience generating BIG ideas
• An integrated approach with digital knowledge
• Demonstrate successful negotiation of large profitable deals
• Experience of working with major retail & consumer brands
• Understanding of the agency market
• Able to work full time & live within reasonable commuting distance of the agency

We recruited a Creative Director, for a London experiential agency, to facilitate the founders retirement exit. learn more

The search

Working collaboratively with the agency’s senior team. This included the exiting Creative Director, who was overseeing the recruitment of their replacement, the HR Director and Managing Partners.

Whilst the exiting Creative Director was prepared to continue in their role, until a suitable replacement was found, we were instructed to perform the most in depth search. However, we were conscious of delivering within a time line to suit both the agency and the exiting Creative Director.

Given the brief of sourcing a Creative Director with experience of working in a top London creative agency, we created our search strategy.

Our head hunt strategy focused on researching potential creative talent in the region, and also those working in London who had originated from the North. Our thought process being having gained experience in a London agency, they may now consider relocating back to their roots. Our experience showed that some who had moved to london to further their creative careers, thought about returning home later for family reasons.

Our strategy was obviously supported by searching our own extensive database. To ensure we covered every angle, we also created social and digital recruitment advertising campaigns to draw candidates from all over the country, that would be evaluated against the brief.

Conclusion

Having conducted an extensive search, and evaluated the creative talent pool, the succesfull candidate was sourced by our head hunting methods.

Possessing previous experience of heading up Creative teams in leading London agencies. They’d also spent considerable time working in one of the worlds largest, and truly integrated agencies. This had given them experience of working in San Francisco and several capital city’s across mainland and Eastern Europe. A multiple award winning Creative Director, across TV, media and digital campaigns, both in Europe and America. They’d also established their previous agency to be in the top five agency’s, out side of London, for the last four years. During that time ranking as the number one several times.

Whilst to complete our search took several weeks. Once identified, screened, qualified and presented to our client, following our recruitment process, the creative director recruitment was concluded swiftly. In short the agency loved the candidate, and acting accordingly.

Under the new Creative Directors leadership the agency continues to grow. Integrating new marketing services, winning additional market share with existing accounts, acquiring new clients and awards.

We’ve also continued building our relationship with the agency. Supporting their growth and development by recruiting top creative talent, as they continue to expand and integrate new marketing and advertising services.

Do you want to recruit the best creative talent? Get in touch to discuss your creative recruitment brief, and how we’ll support your talent attraction and acquisition needs.