Navier to join Fuse8 as group creative director
The Drum has learned that Darren Navier, creative director at Numiko is to join rival Leeds digital company Fuse8, having been appointed as group creative director as the agency looks to develop its creative offering.
Navier has already left Numiko, having been placed on gardening leave ahead of joining Fuse8 next month. It is understood that the agency has already begun its search for a successor.
David Eccles, managing director of Numiko, told The Drum: “Darren has been a great influence on us over the past 18 months and gave us a lot of discipline around design and strategic thinking. I have personally enjoyed working closely with Darren on some of our highest profile projects of last year, from Yorkshire Forward, through to I’m a Celebrity…. The results of those projects are a credit to the company as a whole.”
Eccles added that he wished Navier well in his new role but said this he would use the opportunity to ‘reenergise’ the agency’s creative output and focus on growing his team with ‘fantastic thinkers’.
“Our clients constantly come to us for things that they can’t find elsewhere, which puts an exciting onus on us to build a really open-minded team,” he concluded.
Nigel Hunter, managing director of Fuse8, explained that the appointment of Navier was part of the company’s plan to develop ‘arresting and appealing’ creativity which will be added to the company’s technological output.
“Darren will compliment the existing team perfectly and will provide great integration with the development team as he comes with more than just creative skills. As Fuse8 continues to develop, our appetite for pushing boundaries continues in line,” continued Hunter.
“Darren joins Fuse8 at easily the most exciting time in our history. Great things are planned for Fuse8 over the next few months which we are sure will raise the bar for agencies in the regions,” he added.