Colby Hires Bates Vet for Suzuki

Colby & Partners has hired a creative veteran of the Hyundai account at Bates USA West to help lead its estimated $70 million Suzuki Automotive account.

Carmen Dorr, 47, joins the Santa Monica, Calif., shop as associate creative director. She was previously svp, associate creative director at Bates in Irvine, Calif. She had been at Bates since 1996 and led the creative team on the $160 million Hyun dai dealers account.

“I’d heard about Colby for years,” Dorr said. “They’re such a great creative shop, and the opportunity with Suzuki was great. It’s one of those car companies that is poised to take off, and I’m excited about the opportunities there.”

Dorr reports to Rick Colby, president and executive creative director, and Paul Katzka, partner and evp. She will oversee approximately five art directors and copywriters.

At Bates, Dorr’s work included the Hyundai dealers’ “Testimonial” campaign, which featured satisfied owners, and the “Freedom” effort, which used freedom-themed rock songs. Both earned Effie awards. Dorr also worked on Mazda at Foote, Cone & Belding earlier in her career.

At Colby, Dorr joins another recent arrival from Bates—Brad Booth, who joined in May as svp, account director on Suzuki [Adweek, June 17].

Bates’ future in Irvine seems uncertain. The shop’s contract with the Hyundai dealers is up at the end of this month. Creative for that account and the factory business was awarded to The Richards Group in Dallas earlier this year. Media for both was awarded to Carat in Los Angeles.