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Simon Gill Digitas

DigitasLBi International creative chief Chris Clarke outlines future plans for his department

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By Stephen Lepitak, -

May 6, 2016 | 3 min read

DigitasLBi's chief creative officer, International Chris Clarke has outlined his vision for the agency's creative department following the departure of Simon Gill to Isobar UK.

Speaking to The Drum, Clarke revealed his intention to spend more time working with the team in the UK, while continuing in his current remit beyond that.

"Simon made a huge contribution to our business over the last decade and has led the charge on some of our biggest creative endeavours. That said, his departure has given us an opportunity to rethink how we should structure our creative department," stated Clarke.

"Our industry has a tendency to reward brilliant creatives with management positions. We’ve chosen to reject that model and structure the department instead with more senior talent from across a wider spectrum of creative backgrounds.

"Back in September we announced the launch of our Creative Supergroup, promoting two of our best creative leaders Helen Fuchs and Christopher Lee Ball into the roles of executive creative director and executive experience director. Helen and Christopher will continue to lead our multidisciplinary creative department. They now report directly to me."

He added that new senior talent had been hired into the agency with backgrounds from across media, content, entertainment and technology but explained that even though they came with experience; "We don’t want them managing, we want them doing."

Clarke also spoke about the launch of a scheme which would fund and foster his team's interests outside of work; "If you want to launch a record shop, put out a book or promote a club night and you work here, I’m interested."

He continued to say that by for steering a culture of exploration and by being creating encouraging, it would help make "really valuable work" for the DigitasLBi client-base.

Clarke also revealed that more activity around the connected pigeon pollution monitoring project, 'Pigeon Air Patrol' was on the way.

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