Michael Simons to DRAFTFCB’s worldwide ECD on Kraft – relinquishes CCO New York role
EXCLUSIVE – Aussie expat Michael Simons has been appointed worldwide ECD on DRAFTFCB’s Kraft business, and as a result, has relinquished his role of chief creative officer of DRAFTFCB New York, a position he has held since November 2008.
Simons has juggled both roles since December, but Simons told CB that the Kraft job was now a full-time commitment: “Yes, my life has taken another unexpected but pretty interesting twist.Kraft, which is a huge account for DRAFTFCB around the world and asignificant piece of business in the NYC office, needed specialattention. So Jonathan Harries, our worldwide creative director askedme to step in and look after it.
This from an internal email to agency staff: “The challenge Michaelaccepted has turned into an opportunity that cannot be part-time ortemporary. As such, Michael recently committed to making Kraft hisnumber one priority, and the agency is beginning to see the benefits ofthis decision. That is why Michael has been officially promoted to ECDon the Kraft business worldwide.”
Simons told CB: “Even thoughthe job I’ve been doing feels a little like unfinished business, I’mreally excited about the possibilities this new move presents. In arecent pitch for one of Kraft’s brands, we were up against Crispin andWieden. I think that demonstrates the quality of work they aredemanding these days.”
Simons will remain based in New York, commuting regularly to Kraft’s HQ in Chicago. Tom O’Keefe, who wasnamed executive creative director for DRAFTFCB North America earlierthis year, will be helping to find Simon’s replacement as CCO of DRAFTFCB New York.
Prior to New York Simons had been executive CD of the Draft FCB Sydney since 1998. Before that, he was a creative director on Nike at Wieden + Kennedy in Portland and a senior creative at George Patterson Bates, Sydney.
15 Comments
Nice guy, hope he’s not being moved ‘side-ways’.
MICHAEL SIMONS ROCKS!…Even with facial hair.
Good luck Michael.
Michael must have 2 clones by now to do the amazing amount of work he does, and does well!
Congrats Michael.
11:17
Hope he’s not being moved “away from what makes him happy”, (Which indeed it sounds as if he is not). …. That would be a more caring, genuinely concerned way of putting it.
And I’m sure that’s what you meant.
Good luck!
MSFC
No amount of money or titles will protect him from the ferocious tequil-a-thon coming his way in April!
1.55 No that’s not what I meant…read the fucking blog, you sychophantic little areshole.
3:23_
Yeah…I know what you said…and I totally know what you meant.
Thanks for the input, you have quite a talent for copy and reading in between the lines.
anyone who has ever worked in a large new york agency would know that this is not a promotion.
A trusted, outstandingly talented and lovely fella. Unbelievably creative. Keeps writers inspired too.
Sorry to say but this is far from a promotion, it is a sideways move, you don’t go from CCO of the flagship office to a global ECD role on one brand when you get promoted, you go to maybe Global ECD or CCO of the entire agency network. DRAFTFCB are losing Kraft bit by bit, mainly from the NYC office. The Planters Peanuts account is up for pitch and DRAFTFCB NY are not invited to the pitch. Other Kraft brands are on shaky ground too. One brand was just recently handed to Crispin. The client has been less than happy with the creative work.
I know this as I have a couple of friends who work there at DRAFTFCB NY.
The NYC office simply has not move ahead in the last yeat, no new business wins at all during the last 12 months. They were involved in 14 new business pitches in all and came up empty handed. That never goes down well the powers that be at the top.
NYC agencies are ruthless and the politics are insurmountable, I know as I am working in one of the NYC behemoths (trust me if the economy was any better and more jobs were around I would leave the one I’m at).
It’s a shame that he was chewed up and spat out by the system, but that’s advertising for you.
Having worked on that Kraft business myself all I can say is watch your back mate!
Michael, you forgot to mention that in that pitch against Crispin and W+K you lost to Crispin. So, obviously, you didn’t deliver the kind of work Kraft are demanding.
But hey, never let the truth interfere with a good PR story.
He be home by Xmas
DraftFCB NY ECD is a hot seat, another Aussie expat Rodd Chant was there for about a minute before Michael… must be a ‘challenging’ role.
And yeah, this is obviously a sideways, slightly backwards step for Michael.
Michael is a huge talent and given that this account is on it’s way out of DCFB they must pull out all of the stops. In 12 months it will be at McGarry Bowen and Dentsu worldwide.