Atmosphere Proximity co-founder, CEO and chief creative officer Andreas Combuechen will soon leave the Omnicom network.
A spokesperson confirmed last night that Combuechen will step down to pursue other, unspecified opportunities. Managing director Garrett Franklin will assume Combuechen’s responsibilities, and the latter will remain with the interactive specialty shop for several weeks in order to facilitate the transition. Franklin reports directly to David Shulman, CEO of sister agency Organic.
“Andreas has been at Atmosphere since its doors opened in 1999,” says BBDO CEO of the Americas and Proximity chairman Chris Thomas. “We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him the very best in his next endeavour.”
From Combuechen: “I am proud of what we have achieved at Atmosphere Proximity and pleased to be handing over the agency to a great team.”
The news follows a series of mid-2015 executive-level departures at the agency including ECD John Gagne. Gagne, who now holds the same position at New York’s Beeby Clark+Meyler, was replaced by Stewart Krull, who will continue to lead Atmosphere’s creative department moving forward.
Combuechen helped launch Atmosphere in 1999 as chief creative officer after spending nearly nine years with New York’s Frankfurt Balkind Partners, which was later acquired by Hill Holliday in 2002. Under his lead, Atmosphere collaborated with BBDO on a number of accounts including AOL, GE, Red Stripe and others.
Agency spokespeople did not specify the reasons for Combuechen’s departure and declined to comment on future leadership changes, but our sources hint that Shulman may soon assume leadership of Atmosphere Proximity.