NYC indie Barker hires SVP and social strategist
New York independent agency Barker has hired two new employees: Jason Spies as SVP, Chief Strategy Officer, and Ben Zank as Social Media Strategist. Both will work out of the New York office.
Spies will be responsible for generating new business at the agency, a role he has had before, producing over $20 million in revenue for multiple agencies over the last eight years. Before Barker, he led Rogues United, where he consulted for B2B and B2C companies and previously was Director, Business Development at StrawberryFrog, leading new business wins associated with Jockey Women’s Apparel, FujiFilm Instax, and the country of Albania. He also was Director, Business Development at Night Agency, where he re-launched Keds sneakers, secured digital agency of record relationships with multiple Nestle and Hanes-owned brands, and launched Shiseido’s first global e-commerce platform. Spies began his career in the music industry.
“Jason is a revenue-generating machine and a problem solver,” said agency head John Barker. “From a business perspective and given his proven track record for winning accounts, we know he will be a tremendous asset to us.”
Zank comes to Barker with over four years of experience in social media marketing and visual brand strategy, having worked with brands such as Converse, Tumblr, Hoyts, and Opel, as well as managed social media for over 60 businesses while at New Zealand marketing agency OraHQ. At Barker he will expand upon social strategies across the client roster. Zank was also named one of Tumblr’s 20 Top Photographers To Watch in 2014.
“Ben has an innate knack for creating compelling content that moves brands forward. They’re both going to fit in perfectly at BARKER,” said Barker.