Wieden + Kennedy names Karrelle Dixon managing director of Portland HQ
Wieden + Kennedy has promoted Karrelle Dixon to managing director of its Portland headquarters.
Karrelle Dixon
Dixon, who previously served as director of growth markets at the global agency, replaces longtime Wieden + Kennedy Portland managing director Tom Blessington.
Blessington is leaving the agency to join YouTube as vice president of brand, media and experiences, a newly created role at the company. He will begin his new role in mid-September and will be based at YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California.
“Tom is well known for his culture-shaping, innovative marketing campaigns,” said Danielle Tiedt, YouTube's chief marketing officer, in a statement. “We can’t wait for Tom to bring his breakthrough ideas and rule-breaking spirit to YouTube.”
According to Wieden + Kennedy, the independent agency’s Portland office has “expanded its client base to include some of the world’s most exciting brands, more than doubled the staff to over 600 people, created some of the industry’s most celebrated creative work, and earned a number of distinguished accolades” under Blessington’s leadership. He took on the role of managing director in 2006.
“Saying goodbye to the familiar and hello to the new and unknown is literally what Dan [Wieden] has preached as a creative philosophy since the inception of Wieden + Kennedy,” said Blessington in a statement. “My move is merely putting his wisdom into practice professionally. And as hard as it is to leave a place I love and helped build for almost a quarter of a century, I think every career agency account person wonders what life would be like working on the client side. Well, joining YouTube was far too amazing an opportunity to not find out.”
In his new role, Dixon will partner with executive creative directors Eric Baldwin and Jason Bagley to run the agency’s largest office.
“I have inherited an incredible business and brand that I am truly humbled to now lead,” he said in a statement. “I am excited to work with my partners to build on the breakthrough work that Wieden + Kennedy has been making with great client partners. As we move into the next chapter of our story, my hope and goal is that we continue to be a diverse and dynamic environment that set the standard for creative excellence in the industry.”
Dixon has held a number of roles at Wieden + Kennedy throughout his career. Before serving as director of the agency’s growth markets, he was the global account director for Nike. He first joined Wieden + Kennedy in 2006 as an account manager on Nike and other brands at its London office.