Wieden + Kennedy creative lead John C. Jay, who has been with the Portland-based agency for two decades and currently serves as global ECD/partner, has been appointed as lead for a new unit dubbed W+K Garage, which we’ve been told “will serve as a multidisciplinary creative agency for the connected age, focused on the concepting, creating and investing in innovative experiences, content and technology.”
Agency namesake/co-founder Dan Wieden says this in a statement: “When a man has a vision it is best to help him realize it. This is John Jay unleashed. W+K Garage is for clients who seek a more personal, one on one relationship with one of the industries most celebrated creative minds. John’s connections are deep and worldwide. As is his ability to scour the globe and pull together the perfect team for the challenge at hand. I have never seen the man more energized.”
The “energized” senior creative joined W+K in 1993, subsequently working on accounts including Nike, Microsoft and Coca-Cola while also helping launch the agency’s Tokyo office nearly 15 years ago. We’ve been told by the W+K camp that the “Garage” offices will be based in Portland but there is also salon space in NYC. In addition, we’re getting word that there will be new hires and discussions are underway with potential clients, though the agency has yet to confirm a roster at this point in time.