Baker to leave WAA for KLM
Baker to leave WAA for KLMFollowing the news of Paul Baker’s departure from WAA as creative director, it has transpired that he is to join Birmingham agency KLM.
Baker will take on the role of creative director at KLM from Thursday, made vacant by his former protégée when he was creative director at McCann’s Birmingham, Gary Setchell who has returned to McCann’s to take on the corresponding creative director’s role.
Jon Derry, chairman of KLM told The Drum that they had been talking to Baker about joining the agency since Setchwell departed.
Derry said: “When Gary resigned to back to McCann’s it was shortly after that when we started speaking to Paul. Gary did a fantastic job for us and left a big hole, so we needed a big pair of shoes to fill that and that’s what Paul will do. He’ll be on the board of KLM ltd, working with myself and the other directors in taking the agency forward.
“Paul is an outstanding creative leader with a proven record of developing top quality creative work. I know he will make a valuable contribution to KLM’s overall development,” continued Derry.
Baker said, “KLM view their creative product as integral to the agency’s overall strategy – which is a pre-requisite for any long term success in my view. KLM is an open and positive place - a well run independent agency which offers me both the opportunities and the culture I’m looking for.”
He will head up a creative team of around 12 which will look to services clients such as Britvic; BSkyB; Continental Tyres; Diageo; Marketing Birmingham; Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Peel Airports Group and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
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Good luck Paul, sure you wont need it.
Keep in touch SetchWELL!
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I echo what Sasquatch said. A nice guy and, from what I hear, a nice agency.
Good luck to both, as long as you don't beat us in any pitches.
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PS - What odds can I get on Setchell for WAA and Baker for McCanns?
I think creatively for Paul it's a step up from WAA and McCanns.
Craig, I'll give you odds of 1000-1 considering the headline says he's going to KLM! Still, I like the conspiracy theory.
Just had a look at the work on WAA's website. YOIKS!
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Hair splitting: don't KLM actually need a big pair of feet to fill the big shoes vacated?
Either way, fill yr boots Paul (whatever size they are).
And Shaun, he's 4'6" if he's an inch.
Hmm, three agencies in six months. So, does Paul Baker's London sensibility make it impossible for him to compromise his creative principles? Or are Midlands agencies really so terrified of strong creative leadership? My instinct lies with the latter.
Perhaps one day Paul will be able to mould an agency into somewhere he's happy to work. You never know, KLM might even be that agency.
Mind you, I'd still go even money he's running PHWT within a year.
So this guy's good yeah? He seems to be able to walk back and forth between the Midlands' agencies. Or is it because he's "worked in London" and therefore a genius. Because only genii work in London. If WAA's work is poor then it takes a clever CD to disassociate himself from it and walk into a better job (all conjuncture as I don't know either agency). Good luck to him then, and KLM.
Did he decide he couldn't work with WAA's to improved its creative quality before or after KLM approached him I wonder? Encouraging to see that, even in a recession, this fella has the pick of the region's agencies.
Having worked with Paul, he's a decent enough bloke and a decent enough creative. He lets you get on with your work. However, there are far far more creative people around
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I used to work for KLM & I'm not sure if he will be able to make that much of a difference when the other directors are trapped in the past? Will he be able to pull them into the digital age?
wonder who this could be ;)
adapt or die mofos - we'll keep fighting yo!
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