Advertising Age’s Gold Small Agency of the Year Camp + King is opening a second office in the Second City, Co-Founder and CEO Jamie King announced today.
Having a presence in Chicago signals a growth of the agency’s geographic footprint and also a return to its roots: Camp + King incubated in Chicago in 2010 while King was running Euro RSCG Chicago, now Havas, which is a minority partner in the shop.
The expansion is primarily strategic. Camp + King’s client base is primarily west of the Rockies, and Chicago gives the shop the opportunity to service more Midwestern and Eastern accounts. It also establishes proximity to its Energizer client, which is based in St. Louis.
“We intend to run a one-office, two-location model that gives clients access to the totality of Camp + King in San Francisco and Chicago,” King noted. “Our intent is to create a long corridor between the Presidio of San Francisco and State Street in Chicago.”
Kristin Barbour, named managing director in Chicago, will run the office. Barbour is a DDB Chicago veteran who has spent more than 20 years leading some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including McDonald’s, Kraft, Mars, Conagra and Chevrolet. Her success on every account has been fueled by inspiring innovative, brand-building ideas and assembling high-performing teams that have won every major advertising award. Barbour is most renowned for developing deep client partnerships and achieving a track record of real business results for her clients. Notable examples include record sales runs, game-changing product launches, executing one of the most successful global campaigns in McDonald’s brand history and reinvigorating brands in staid categories leading to explosive growth for Conagra.
“Kristin is a dynamic leader who embodies the city of Chicago and understands the vision of Camp + King,” King added. “She is the perfect person to build our brand there.”
Camp + King Chicago will be temporarily housed within Havas on East Grand Avenue. The two companies have collaborated on numerous projects.
“I am excited to have direct access to the creative talent in Chicago,” said Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Roger Camp. “Like the city, the talent is soulful and expressive, and I intend to apply Chicago and San Francisco teams to all of our client briefs, regardless of location. We intend to marry West Coast dreaming with Chicago work ethic to best solve client briefs.”
Camp + King won Advertising Age’s 2017 Gold Small Agency of the Year for shops with 11 to 75 employees.
