Our ever-reliable sources tell us that StrawberryFrog managing director/partner Sophie Kelly has left the agency. We’ve been getting tips over the last couple of days talking about “big changes at StrawberryFrog” so we’re assuming these were pertaining to Aussie native Kelly, who joined the Froggers two years ago from JWT. During her nearly six years at the latter agency, Kelly held posts including global business director for Diageo.
Kelly’s not the only major StrawberryFrog exec that’s called it quits, though, as chief strategy officer Ilana Bryant has also walked out the door. Bryant’s LinkedIn does in fact indicate that she’s joined up as a strategy partner at a consultancy called Special Forces. She had been with StrawberryFrog for over five years.
Update: Girl, you know it’s true, Kelly is in fact “moving on” from StrawberryFrog. We’ve been told it was a “mutual agreement.” Here’s the official word from the agency:
In the two years Sophie has been with the pond, she has made an enormous contribution to the growth of the business. Under her leadership we have secured more retainer clients, grown existing clients, improved our product and diversified the types of projects we take on in the content and new media area. Sophie’s experience at StrawberryFrog has opened her eyes to new possibilities in the content creation and new media area that she has a desire to go and explore. Kelly joined the agency as lead Business Director and went on to be Managing Director reporting to the CEO. StrawberryFrog plans to fill the both jobs, most likely with two people. During the transition, Scott Goodson will act as MD of the New York agency while a search is underway.
Sophie says: “Leaving is difficult. I have a lot of respect for the agency. It is a very emotional thing for me to leave an agency that has been so wonderful to me. I have great passion for StrawberryFrog.”
“We will miss Sophie. She leaves a friend of the FrogPond and we are inspired by her time here. We are sad to see her go,” says Scott Goodson, founder and CEO.