MINNEAPOLIS (April 14, 2009)—Fallon Minneapolis is on the move after a string of pitch wins under a new management team helmed by CEO Chris Foster. Fallon’s longstanding proposition of better to “outsmart than to outspend” has had particular appeal in this grueling economy.
“We chose not to be confined by geography when we set out to find the most gifted individual for the job,” says Foster. “Our aim is to do brave work that makes a difference, and that requires proven creative leadership. We’ve made great strides these past twelve months; however, we see the opportunity to accelerate growth by taking a broader worldview of creativity.”
“Having firsthand experience in international advertising arenas, I turned to hotbeds of creativity for my recruiting focus. Argentina, Thailand, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and the UK are where the most evocative work is happening. An accomplished Aussie quickly rose to the surface.”
Darren Spiller comes to Fallon Minneapolis by way of Publicis Mojo in Melbourne, Australia, where he most recently served as Regional Executive Creative Director and a member of the Publicis Global Creative Board.
“I have been blessed to be involved in the creation of highly awarded world-class campaigns for such clients as Nike, Tourism Victoria, Nestlé, Toyota, Hertz and McDonalds,” says Spiller. “I believe in work that is built on the belief that the best ideas come from a well-mined truth and that reality is stranger than fiction. My style of work is built on opening out, not closing down.”
“By my own admission, I’m a populist, and I believe that if you can get people to like the way you’re communicating (even if the message is unwelcome), you have a higher chance of success,” added Spiller.
“Darren is the creative director all young creative people should aspire to be. Wonderfully talented, yet still grounded and sincere,” said fellow Aussie David Droga, Founder/Creative Chairman of droga5.
“I have known Darren for nearly 20 years—in that time he has gone from strength to strength. His ability and deft touch as a leader make him a great choice for a brand as important to our industry as Fallon," added Droga.
Al Kelly, current executive creative director of Fallon Minneapolis, is leaving the agency on April 15 to pursue other career options.
During his tenure at Fallon, Kelly, who joined Fallon's executive leadership team in 2007, helped Fallon get back on the winning track by contributing to a number of new business wins for the agency in 2008 and overseeing award-winning work for the likes of Travelers Insurance, Holiday Inn Express and TheLadders.com.
Kelly plans to take some time off before determining his next career move.
“Al was a big part of our turnaround, and we thank him for the many contributions he made to our recent successes. We’re sorry to see him go,” said Foster.
“Fallon is proof that an agency can adapt and thrive in tough times. I look forward to watching its continued success,” said Kelly.
Spiller takes up his position in late spring. He and his wife Donna have five children, who are all looking forward to seeing snow for the first time.
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Media Note:
Fallon Minneapolis is a division of Fallon Worldwide, a part of Publicis Groupe S.A., based in Paris. Fallon Minneapolis’ clients include: Travelers, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, TIME Magazine, Nestlé Purina, Nestlé Beverage, NBC Universal, General Mills, TheLadders.com and Boston Market. Fallon Worldwide is one of the world’s most critically acclaimed creativity companies, delivering innovative strategic business solutions for some of the world’s leading brands. Additional information can be found at www.fallon.com.