Today we learned of a series of current and pending changes that will reshape the creative and executive teams at the Boulder/Oakland offices of EVB (also known as Evolution Bureau).
The former Omnicom shop, which left the holding company to go indie in 2014 and relocated its headquarters from San Francisco to Oakland while also starting what looks like a healthy relationship with fellow Colorado agency Victors & Spoils, confirmed that Boulder-based partner/ECD Steve Babcock is no longer an employee.
From founder and CEO Daniel Stein:
“Steve Babcock is no longer with EVB. It was a big loss. Steve is an incredible person and outstanding creative director. He did a lot to help build the agency over the past few years, especially in Boulder. I know I speak for everyone in the agency when I say that we wish him the very best of luck with everything and are excited to see what he does next.”
We hear from sources close to the matter that Babcock was let go. We also hear that VP/group creative director Rich Ford will soon follow him in the next stage of the reshuffling. Reports vary, but at least one source claims that Ford has already given his two weeks notice.
The two worked together at CP+B (as did almost everyone else in Boulder who works in the ad industry), where Babcock spent six years and rose to the position of VP/ECD; Ford went to Crispin in early 2010 and spent three years there as an associate creative director. The creative pair then joined EVB together in February of 2013 with Babcock taking over for departed partner/ECD Stephen Goldblatt, who recently joined Allison Johnson’s West as an ECD but no longer works there, according to multiple sources. (You may recall that the sort-of-mysterious Bay Area shop recently hired Jordan Crane of Wolff Olins to be its new CCO.)
In coming weeks, we have reason to believe that EVB will announce a series of new hires and executive changes at of its offices. These changes will include new management and new creative leaders.
We’ve reached out to Rich Ford for comment but have received no response to date.