Uncommon hires former Droga5 exec as first New York president

Uncommon Creative Studio has hired its first New York president, nine months after the hot shop expanded its footprint into the U.S. Lindsay Cole, most recently the co-head of account management at Droga5, is taking on the role after 10 years at the Accenture Song agency overseeing client relationships for brands such as Prudential, Hennessy and JPMorgan Chase. Agency Review Tracker Stay up to date with the latest account reviews Click here Cole said she was looking for a role at an agency that was smaller and “primed for growth.” Droga5’s other co-head of account management is Jessica Kingsbery. Droga5 didn’t immediately respond to questions regarding whether it will hire for Cole’s role. Since launching in October, Uncommon’s New York studio has seen early success by winning business with brands such as Beats, Harry’s, Peacock and SiriusXM. The studio, led by Chief Creative Officer Sam Shepherd, recently launched a short film for SiriusXM that focused on the power of music. Late last year, Uncommon helped launch the audio broadcast company’s new brand platform, “Closer.” The New York agency was also behind a Harry’s commercial that focuses on a love story that began because of the product, and a Quaker Oats photo series. Outside of its brand work, Uncommon made headlines when it launched “Ratboot,” a pair of boots with stuffed rats in them that went viral during New York Fashion Week this year. Globally, Uncommon’s revenue is up 78% and it has added over 25 new clients, in part thanks to its quick growth in the U.S., the agency said. To continue New York’s momentum, Uncommon Co-Founder Natalie Graeme said it was important to have a leadership team with experience in the U.S. Uncommon also sought someone with experience in account management to help clients that are experiencing “moments of change” who can explain to them how Uncommon can help, Graeme added. “Often with the clients we work with, they have no choice ... they have to change, whether that’s [because of] massive market factors or some inherent complexity,” Graeme said, adding: “Very often [account management] is dismissed as something that's just a necessary evil. But [the founders] of Uncommon have always found it incredibly important to have strong leaders in account management, who help understand, internally and externally, just how to set those conditions.” Uncommon New York currently has around 30 employees and operates under its own P&L, which Graeme said is important as the agency looks to New York to pave its identity in the U.S. Also read: 10 independent agency networks to know “In the U.K., we have a design practice and we are moving into experiential and spatial design. We do an awful lot of PR and entertainment and we want the same for the states,” Graeme said. “We also want the new office to have the ability to find their own places that they want to play.” Graeme said the New York studio will look to fill strategy and production positions next. Graeme credits Uncommon’s sale to Havas last year for accelerating its hiring and growth in the U.S.

Uncommon hires former Droga5 exec as first New York president

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