CHI & PARTNERS
CHI & Partners set off at a steady pace in January 20 16 but really put its foot down in the last three months of the year. As part of The & Partnership, it pulled off a major coup, driving away with the integrated account for Toyota before incumbent Publicis Groupe had even realised there was a race on.
There were also new-business successes closer to home. CHI & Partners fended off competition from Mullenlowe London and Havas London to win the global Godiva business and Mcvitie’s outside the UK. The agency also showed some entrepreneurial flare by taking a stake in craft brewery Freedom after picking up its ad account in December.
Work highlights included a campaign for Carphone Warehouse’s id network – although the agency’s previous role on the main account was a casualty of the merger with Dixons due to conflict with Argos – and a brand refresh for Talktalk featuring real people.
The late surge can be attributed to CHI & Partners’ fine-tuning in the first part of the year. It said goodbye to creative chief Jonathan Burley – who eventually moved to Y&R London as chief creative officer. Then the agency poached Yan Elliott from Lucky Generals to run the creative department – complete with its newly “single” creatives – with Micky Tudor, who was promoted from deputy executive creative director. After spearheading a recruitment initiative designed to promote diversity, Sarah Golding was named sole chief executive and Nick Howarth moved to
The & Partnership to lead Toyota.
Golding was also named president of the IPA in December and takes over from Tom Knox this month. With new clients to play with and a leading industry role for Goldie, CHI & Partners should be able to move up a gear again in 2017.