BBDO hired Alex Booker and Philip Sicklinger as executive creative directors on Ford, which named BBDO as its global lead creative agency a little over a year ago.
Booker (pictured, right) and Sicklinger (pictured, left) will work on the Ford North America account and will be based out of BBDO’s New York office while splitting their time with the Detroit office.
“This is a pivotal and exciting moment for Ford and, indeed, the automotive industry. Things have to be looked at differently and done differently. Which means everyone we invite in to the agency to work on Ford has to have a wide open mind, a wide open aperture, where new platforms and new solutions rule the day,” BBDO global CCO David Lubars said in a statement. “Alex and Phil have proven to be these type of thinkers. We’re excited about them joining Ford and BBDO.”
Longtime creative partners, Booker and Sicklinger join BBDO from MullenLowe, where they spent two years as group creative directors. They began working together as an art director and copywriter team at M&C Saatchi over a decade ago and continued their creative partnership at BMF and BBH New York. Over the years, they have worked with clients including Aldi, E*Trade, PlayStation and Tap King.
In their roles, Booker and Sicklinger join a team led by evp, global executive creative director Lauren Connolly, to whom they will report.
“Alex and Philip are an immensely talented team that will bring innovative storytelling and meaningful experiences to build the iconic Ford oval,” Connolly said in a statement. “And while their work speaks for itself, the people who have worked with them speak to the type of leaders they are—passionate, smart, inspiring and charismatic—which really does make them the perfectly balanced team. And a perfect fit for ours. We’re excited to have them lead the team through great work and join the world class team we have for Ford around the world.”
Booker and Sicklinger’s arrival at BBDO follows the agency promoting agency veteran and New York CCO Greg Hahn to creative vice chairman last week.