You win some, you lose some, eh Deutsch? The agency’s LA office is losing its co-CEO Eric Hirshberg to Activision, where he will take on the head post in studios and publishing and succeed the company’s vice-chairman Michael Griffith, who stepped down as publishing CEO in April.
According to the top dog in the videogame game, Hirshberg will assume his post effective September 7 and will report to Activision COO Thomas Tippl. Hirshberg, who spent 13 years at Deutsch, caused Activision stock prices to rise a whole $.07 around 1:30 according to Bloomberg. We will be getting a statement quite soon. Stay tuned. After the jump, you can read the reaction from Deutsch LA CEO Mike Sheldon.
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“Eric’s been a great friend and partner and we’ve built an incredible business over the last 13 years. I’ve always been really proud to run this place with him and today, with massively mixed emotions, I’m even prouder to see him take his career to a new level. He’s taking on an enormous assignment and I know he’ll be as spectacular there as he was here.â€
While Eric’s departure will be a loss, it comes at a time when the agency has never been more successful. Most importantly our client’s businesses are doing well. Deutsch LA is an amazing machine; in the last six months we’ve hired 140 new people, we’ve started a digital production department, added an
experiential marketing group which is all on top of the inclusive culture we’re known for.
We’re going to have a tough couple of months, then you’ll see a new, even better agency come out of this, more people stepping up to the plate, more innovation and invention, more people spreading their wings. I’m excited and invigorated.
After 17 years together, which by the way is one of the longest marriages in LA, I guess I’ll need to find a new work wife.”