Late last week we heard Studio 10x’s Pat Stern (pictured, not the child) is headed to R/GA to fill the ECD role on Walmart. Then, this from CCO Nick Law (standard internal memo):
“I’m excited to introduce Pat Stern to you all as the new Executive Creative Director overseeing the Walmart business at R/GA. Over the past year, under the leadership of a vast and talented creative team, we’ve built Walmart into one of R/GA’s largest clients and the opportunities ahead are aplenty. We are bringing Pat in at this time to bring his vast experience in digital and marketing overall to help lead this team, inspire and curate the best work, and deliver on our promise to Walmart to help make them the #1 digital retailer in the world. I’ll also plan to spend some more time on Walmart in the coming months as well.”
Two important things here that probably seem obvious are that 1) Walmart (apparently) aims to become the best ever online retailer. Lookout Zappos, Amazon, rest of internet. And 2) Law will be helping out with the business as well. That’s what CCOs do, presumably.
Stern spent a year at R/GA from 2002-2003, according to LinkedIn, but has a resume spanning the likes of Plumb, EuroRSCG, Media Arts Lab and most recently Studio 10x which is “an interactive design agency focused on using readily available technologies and open-source software to create sites that tap into the power of social media.” Oh, gotcha, they build internet sites.
More: “MediaBeat: R/GA CCO Nick Law Discusses the Lessons of 2009”