Art director Jim Landry has rejoined Minneapolis-based indie agency Clarity Coverdale Fury as its executive creative director, effective immediately.
This news marks the third stint at CCF for Landry, who brings more than 20 years to the new role: He previously served as art director at Fallon and Clarity, senior art director at OLSON and creative director at mono before rejoining CCF as an AD/CD in 2010 and later moving to Haberman as an associate creative director.
“We sought Jim out and are thrilled to have him back at CCF,” says president and CEO Rob Rankin in the release, adding, “Jim has an unmatched breadth and depth of experience. But more importantly, he has a wildly creative and enthusiastic mind – and embodies the character and values we seek in our leadership.”
Today Rankin tells us that the agency reached out to Landry, who had been running his own operation called Hammersaw with the help of an account professional, when founder/partner/ECD Jac Coverdale announced earlier this year that he plans to retire in 2017. The two will effectively co-lead the agency’s creative operations for the next six months in order to better facilitate the transition.
Coverdale is the sole remaining founder of Clarity Coverdale Fury following the 2015 retirement of Tim Clarity.
Landry has worked with a variety of clients throughout his two decades in the industry, with a focus on health and wellness. His work has been recognized by Cannes, The One Show, the CLIOs, the OBIEs and the Minnesota AdFed Show, among others; his portfolio includes such brands as Herman Miller, MADD, Citi, Timberland PRO and anti-smoking group QUITPLAN, for which he helped created a series of “Big Butt” billboards.
“Staff literally clapped and cheered” when Landry’s hiring was announced, Rankin says. “To a client, those that had worked with him in the past were absolutely thrilled. He and I will collaborate on a vision for the agency … we have lots of shared values.”
Regarding that vision, Rankin tells us, “We’ll continue what we’ve been doing; our focus is always on delivering great creative work, and we tend to focus on regional clients” along with some national brands based in the Upper Midwest.
“It’s good to be back at CCF,” Landry says. “There’s a lot of ‘great’ happening here. I’m looking forward to helping shape the next generation.”