Agency’s former rookie now co-leader
● Creative agency likens situation to ‘a football team having Ronaldo’
A creative expert has taken a leading role at the Edinburghbased agency where he originally star ted his career after winning a graduate placement award – as it aims to double in size within five years.
A decade after that first opportunity with Studiolr, Dave King has now been appointed its head of strate - gy and creative and will lead the ten-strong team in tandem with the firm’s co-founder Andy Gray.
The agency also said the re structure marks a major shift in its development, and it is re focusing to specialise in working with “challenger” brands, as well as with established businesses that need support with redefining their brand.
Gray, the firm’s head of business, said: “We sponsored the Graduate Prize for Graphic Design at Na pier University and the winner earned a short placement with us. From the moment Dave walked in the door for his placement it was clear there was something special about him. We’ve supported his development with us for ten years and so now it’s the natural step for Dave to move into this senior leadership role.”
StudioLRw as formed by Gray and Lucy Richard sin 2004, and she will continue to lend her experience to the firm as chair, while concentrating her creative efforts on the agency’s up coming venture Better Company, which will be devoted to making a positive impact on society.
Richards added :“Having Dave on the team is like a football team having Ron al do – he’s driven about making himself and Studiolr famous. Dave’s a sought-after circuit-speaker on creative braver y, not only across the UK but internationally, which is also why it makes sense for us to us to align our work around his passion and strengths. In the past couple of years we’ve been making more and more of a splash with brave and gutsy creative work, particularly for challenger brands.”
The agency also said Gray, King and the team work on a portfolio of clients including Volvo, Jura Whisky, Seafish, Fettercairn Whisky and major recruitment specialist Sanderson – and it consistently turns over around £800,000.
Gray said: “In the wake of the pandemic, this is a turbulent time for businesses. We know brands want to work with creative agencies that can demonstrate strong business credentials as well as creative flair.”
King, who created D&AD’S Braver y Masterclass that he delivers worldwide to major agencies and in-house teams, said :“We’ re carving a reputation in helping ambitious brands to adopt stop-you-inyour-tracks creative that really helps them stand out from the competition.
“For us it’s all about sharp - ness, honesty and impact. There’s nothing more rewarding than working with like - minded, ambitious people, and helping them win in their sector. Scary times can also be exciting times. Clients we work with can expect big, b old, attention-seeking ide - as that get them noticed and remembered.”
Other organisations the firm has worked with include the National Trust for Scotland, National Galleries of S cotland, Whyte & Mackay, and John Lewis.
“We’ve supported Dave’s development with us for ten years and so now it’s the natural step for him to move into this senior leadership role.”
ANDY GRAY