It’s been a busy week on the staffing front at AKQA’s Bay Area branch. After losing top creative Pierre Lipton to M&C Saatchi New York (but quickly finding his successors), the WPP agency’s San Francisco office is losing its head of strategy Kelli Robertson, sources familiar with matter confirm. AKQA wouldn’t provide comment, but Robertson nearly spent nearly six years at the shop, first as group planning director before eventually moving up to her most recent position. From what we hear, though, AKQA is in the process of rebuilding its SF strategy department.
In addition to Robertson’s imminent departure, but unrelated to it, we’ve received word that AKQA U.S. head of production Scott Wassmer, who’s also based in San Francisco and has logged nearly six years at the agency, is soon leaving for a gig on the East Coast. Once again, AKQA wouldn’t comment on the matter.
Update: Sources familiar with the matter confirm that Robertson isn’t moving very far as she’s joining Goodby Silverstein & Partners “in a couple of weeks.” Still waiting on a title, though.