Leading independent advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) today appointed agency veterans Mark Fitzloff and Susan Hoffman as executive creative directors, for the agency’s Portland office.
Effective immediately, Fitzloff and Hoffman will succeed Jelly Helm and Steve Luker as executive creative directors. Tom Blessington will continue in his role as managing director of W+K Portland.
Susan Hoffman joined W+K in 1984 as an art director in the Portland office and became a partner of W+K in 1992. She has worked with clients such as Nike, Microsoft, Cartoon Network, the Paramount Hotel, Miller High Life, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Google and Target. She was responsible for opening both W+K Amsterdam and W+K London. Most recently she served as the director on W+K12, an experimental advertising school located in the W+K office in Portland.
“I have worked with Dan and David for over 27 years and what still gets me so excited about W+K is the possibility for everyone to have their own voice,” said Susan Hoffman. “W+K offers so many opportunities for people to create great work and I look forward to contributing to that environment.”
Mark Fitzloff joined W+K Portland in 1999 and has since evolved from a copywriter to a veteran creative director. His resumé includes producing award-winning work in all media for clients such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Miller, Nike, P&G, Alta Vista, Siemens and Electronic Arts. Most recently he was the creative director on CareerBuilder.com and Old Spice.
Prior to W+K, Fitzloff worked for the now-defunct San Francisco agency Anderson & Lembke, as well as one of the world’s first digital agencies BronnerSlosbergHumphrey (aka Digitas).
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both Susan and I have worked at Wieden for so many years. Almost forty years combined,” commented Fitzloff. “W+K is a really special place. And with all the changes in our industry, there couldn’t be a more exciting time to be in this position.”
Jelly Helm will return to his roots as the Director of W+K12—the program he founded in 2004. Now in its fifth year, the program recruits twelve diversely creative people—photographers, artists, lawyers, songwriters and more—from thousands of applicants to create together, working on their own clients, including GOOD magazine, Wordstock and Evergreen Aviation.
“W+K12 is where I want to be,” commented Jelly Helm on his return as director of W+K12. “I am thrilled to be back.”
Steve Luker is currently exploring opportunities within the global network of Wieden+Kennedy.
“I’m proud of the work we have accomplished in the last year and a half and I’m excited about what the future holds for this very special place,” said Steve Luker.
About Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy, founded in Portland, Oregon, is one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies, with offices in Amsterdam, Delhi, London, New York, Portland, Shanghai and Tokyo. A full-service, creatively led communications company, Wieden+Kennedy has helped build some of the strongest global brands, including Nike, ESPN, Starbucks, Honda, Electronic Arts, P&G and Coca-Cola.
