Two months after winning the MetLife account (which had been with CP+B), Bay Area agency Argonaut has hired Matt Ashworth and promoted David Kim. Both will be ECDs.
Ashworth has held various creative positions over more than two decades in the industry. He was recently a CD at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, and he discussed the shop’s work for TD Ameritrade with Adweek in 2012. The release calls him “a highly sought-after freelancer” while noting his prior stints with Hal Riney, BSSP and The Martin Agency. His digital portfolio is titled “make + destroy.”
Ashworth has also been working with Argonaut for some time on projects like this Fitbit campaign. CCO Hunter Hindman writes, “Matt and DK have been with us since the beginning, both have been tremendous contributors to our success and will continue to be creative leaders that drive us forward.”
Kim joined Argonaut just over two years ago after a brief stint working on VW at Deutsch L.A.; the given reason at the time was nostalgia for the Bay Area. His 12 years in the agency world include earlier gigs in the creative departments of Venables Bell & Partners, Publicis Seattle and TBWA’s below the line shop TEQUILA.
The release also credits Kim with helping to pitch and win the Intel business while at VB&P.
In their new positions, Kim and Ashworth will work across Argonaut’s client roster, which includes Cricket and Hershey in addition to Fitbit and MetLife. They will report directly to Hindman and co-CCO Rick Condos, who says that “Matt and DK both live by our ethos to create work that works and work that’s wanted in the world,” adding, “They share our passion and commitment to the clients we serve. We’re thrilled to have them on board.”