- Eleftheria Parpis

NEW YORK Wieden + Kennedy has named creative directors Hal Curtis and Tyler Whisnand co-directors of in-house ad school W+K12.
 
The duo replaces Jelly Helm, who founded the program in 2004. Helm, who has left the agency to pursue other interests, according to the Portland, Ore.-headquartered independent agency, had led the shop's creative department with Steve Luker for about a year and a half before current executive creative directors Mark Fitzloff and Susan Hoffman assumed that role in July.
 
Both Curtis and Whisnand remain in their roles as creative directors on Coca-Cola and Nike, respectively.

Curtis has been with the agency since 1994. Before his leadership position on Coca-Cola, he was cd on Nike for 10 years, creating a body of work that includes campaigns such as "Freestyle," "Hackysack," "Play," "Tag" and "The Morning After." Curtis also spent a decade mentoring students at the University of Oregon.
 
"I've always had the desire to teach and I really enjoy it," said Curtis in a statement. "I'm thrilled to be doing it."
 
Whisnand was a partner and cd at KesselsKramer in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, before joining Wieden in 2007 as Nike cd. He has also served as a guest professor at the Design Academy Eindhoven in Holland.
 
"My vision for this program is for the students to come out of it being more well-rounded, enlightened and prepared," said Whisnand.