Laundry Service has entered a new leadership cycle.
The Wasserman creative agency hired Leo Macias (pictured, right) as global chief creative officer and named Jordan Fox (pictured, left) as head of Laundry Service and sister company Cycle.
Macias will officially begin in his role on December 10 and report directly to Fox.
“Leo is a brilliant creative mind with a track record of successfully building and leading world-class global teams. He’s unbound by convention, and shares our philosophy that meaningful work happens through diverse thought, collaboration and authenticity,” Fox said in a statement. “His positive energy is inspiring, and together we look forward to (continuing to build) meaningful relationships between brands and people.”
Macias joins Laundry Service from DDB Colombia, where he spent the past three years as CCO, working with brands including AB InBev, Avianca and Poker. Before that, he spent nearly two years as a creative director for DM9DDB in São Paulo, working with clients such as Mercedes-Benz and Johnson & Johnson. Before joining DDB, he spent three years with the São Paulo office of Publicis Groupe, working with clients such as Nestlé, Purina and Procter & Gamble.
Laundry Service managing director Amy Hellickson and Laundry Service and Cycle CMO Mike Mikho will continue in roles as part of the senior leadership team, reporting to Fox.
Fox and the senior leadership team have identified and articulated “Authenticity; Collaboration; Diversity/Inclusion; & Meaningful Work” as the agency’s “philosophical and cultural” pillars as it enters its next era, while promising an increased focus on collaboration and a commitment to transparency and the “deliberate” and “thoughtful” pursuit of growth.
“Jordan (Fox) has exhibited strong leadership and has worked to establish a collaborative environment focused on cultivating great talent and delivering for our partners,” Wasserman CEO Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “His understanding of our business and command of culture and marketing will drive his success as head of Laundry Service and Cycle.”
Laundry Service played a central role in this summer’s Papa John’s saga. Papa John’s founder and former chairman John Schnatter claimed that unspecified Laundry Service employees had “pressured” him into a conversation in which he used racist language and attempted to “extort” his company to the tune of $6 million before ultimately leaking the news. An internal memo from an unnamed Laundry Service executive denied Schnatter’s claims and advised agency employees to avoid discussing the matter with the press.
Laundry Service resigned the Papa John’s account back in May following the offensive phone call. It subsequently parted with 60 employees, citing “client attrition.” CEO Jason Stein also left the agency in July to launch a new company called Stein’s.