Timo Kirez leaves McCann Erickson
Major personnel changes at McCann Erickson: Chief Creative Officer Timo Kirez will be leaving the agency shortly. The Chairman and Chief Creative Officer and the management of the advertising agency based in Geneva and Zurich have decided to end their collaboration. CEO Beat Mühlemann explains why to Werbewoche.
Major personnel changes at McCann Erickson: Chief Creative Officer Timo Kirez will be leaving the agency shortly. The Chairman and Chief Creative Officer and the management of the advertising agency based in Geneva and Zurich have decided to end their collaboration. CEO Beat Mühlemann explains why to Werbewoche.
"Timo Kirez has tried to lead the creative departments of both McCann agencies with great determination and commitment. That is an incredibly difficult task," Mühlemann told Werbewoche. He had to manage seven people in Zurich and nine people in Geneva who were working on completely different jobs. "It couldn't be managed like that. That's why we have now decided together with Germany that we need to find a different solution." According to Mühlemann, this means that the offices in Zurich and Geneva will work much more closely together in future. The aim is to utilize the potential of both agencies to a greater extent and to have the creative departments managed by two creative heads who work closely together. Kirez saw the proposal to lead the creative team in Geneva from now on as a downgrade.
Over the past nine years, Hamburg-born Timo Kirez and his team have realized numerous campaigns, some of which have won awards at national and international competitions. He has been instrumental in building up the agency.
Nothing is yet known about Kirez's professional future. His employment with McCann Erickson ends at the end of March 2009. "However, we have agreed with him that he will be free to dispose of his time as he wishes with immediate effect," says Mühlemann. "Timo has a name in Switzerland. He is an ADC member and has worked successfully in Switzerland for many years. I am sure that he will quickly find an exciting position again." His two successors are to be announced in the next few days.
Commenting on the agency's realignment, Mühlemann said: "In future, there will simply be McCann Erickson Switzerland. As we have two strong footholds in Geneva and Zurich, we are very familiar with the different perceptions and mentalities in French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland. I am convinced that this is extremely interesting for many clients."
"Timo Kirez has tried to lead the creative departments of both McCann agencies with great determination and commitment. That is an incredibly difficult task," Mühlemann told Werbewoche. He had to manage seven people in Zurich and nine people in Geneva who were working on completely different jobs. "It couldn't be managed like that. That's why we have now decided together with Germany that we need to find a different solution." According to Mühlemann, this means that the offices in Zurich and Geneva will work much more closely together in future. The aim is to utilize the potential of both agencies to a greater extent and to have the creative departments managed by two creative heads who work closely together. Kirez saw the proposal to lead the creative team in Geneva from now on as a downgrade.
Over the past nine years, Hamburg-born Timo Kirez and his team have realized numerous campaigns, some of which have won awards at national and international competitions. He has been instrumental in building up the agency.
Nothing is yet known about Kirez's professional future. His employment with McCann Erickson ends at the end of March 2009. "However, we have agreed with him that he will be free to dispose of his time as he wishes with immediate effect," says Mühlemann. "Timo has a name in Switzerland. He is an ADC member and has worked successfully in Switzerland for many years. I am sure that he will quickly find an exciting position again." His two successors are to be announced in the next few days.
Commenting on the agency's realignment, Mühlemann said: "In future, there will simply be McCann Erickson Switzerland. As we have two strong footholds in Geneva and Zurich, we are very familiar with the different perceptions and mentalities in French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland. I am convinced that this is extremely interesting for many clients."
