For Jeep, which began working with Highdive shortly after its founding, the agency has been able to deliver impactful campaigns at pop-culture speeds. The shop has an “Always On” team for Jeep that is constantly scouring social media trends and cultural events to see what the automotive brand should pop into. A campaign for Jeep that debuted during the 2023 Super Bowl tapped into electrification by showing animals dancing to “Electric Boogie.” The campaign helped the hybrid SUV Jeep Wrangler 4xe sell a record-breaking number of units in the second quarter of 2023, according to Highdive.
“It’s fast-moving, the auto business, and things are changing rapidly and I think we’re able to keep up with such quick movement with our fast ability to react in real time,” said Mark Gross, Highdive’s co-founder and co-chief creative officer.
As it looks to continue the revenue success it earned in 2023, the agency is investing in several areas. One is its strategy department, where Highdive recently hired its first chief strategy officer, as it builds on its ability to amass real-time consumer feedback and respond accordingly with creative. Another is production; Highdive is ramping up its four-year-old internal production studio, 1986, which collaborates on all work, including Super Bowl TV spots and witty social media content.
In addition, Highdive is focusing on employees as it seeks to continue its 90%-plus staffer retention rate. This year, it introduced an employee recognition award in honor of founding partner Louis Slotkin, who passed away last year. The agency will send one Highdive employee and a guest to France, where Slotkin started his career, for a week.
“Every agency is only as good as the talent, and we are confident we have some of the best in the world,” said Broude.