Major changes at Amaze and The Chase as Bradshaw departs
Major changes at Amaze and The Chase as Bradshaw departsNick Bradshaw, managing partner at Amaze, is to leave the agency as part of a major reshuffle that will see Amaze's advertising division merged into The Chase's Manchester operation.
Marketing agency Amaze and design firm The Chase are both owned by the Hasgrove Group and will retain their own brands but "work in partnership on client briefs where appropriate".
Hasgrove says it has decided on the restructure because The Chase, better known for its design work, is being asked to handle more advertising briefs as part of the "changing media landscape".
The changes see Bradshaw, who has headed up advertising and PR at Amaze since 2008, leave the company "to pursue a new opportunity". It brings to an end his seven-year association with the group that started when he joined Connectpoint, which was later merged into Amaze.
Completing the restructure, The Chase has hired ex-Mother creative Maurice De Ven as joint creative director to head up and expand its London office.
Hasgrove chief executive, Rod Hyde, said: “In our portfolio of businesses where we have core disciplines that complement one another, it makes sense to create a way to allow those talents to thrive. We are delighted to bring in a highly talented professional in Maurice.
“His creative flair will be a natural fit with those within our existing teams. I am expecting a closer working relationship between the two brands as a result of these changes. Nick’s departure is a loss to the group, but I wish him well with his new venture.”
The Chase, founded in Manchester in 1986, is best known for its design work with clients including the BBC, The Co-operative Group and Royal Mail. It has offices in Manchester, Preston and London.
Ben Casey, executive creative director at The Chase, said: "With these announcements I genuinely feel the Chase is in a great position to capitalise on the changes taking place in the media landscape. These changes offer limitless opportunities for brands to develop a truly incisive dialogue with consumers.”
Amaze has offices in Cheshire, Manchester, London and Brussels and along with advertising offers integrated marketing and technology services. It has worked with the likes of Coca-Cola Enterprises, Toyota and Northern Rail.
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Comments
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Sorry to see Connectpoint close it's doors. It was a great agency in its day. Not surprised though.
Good luck to the creatives and studio The Chase will be a fantastic place to work.
if you've got nothing nice to say about him, then don't comment..........on second thoughts, there'd be nothing funny to read...
Not sure what all the fuss is about - I really liked Nick
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How very noble for all but one post (and this one) to be posted anonymously...
Grow a pair and have the strength of your convictions. Or are we all scared of burning bridges that much?
And before anyone asks, Yes I have worked with him previously.
Knives away now, someone may get hurt.
Mark - you know as well as we all do why people are posting anonymously - the industry in this city is so closely knit that it's easy to put your foot in it without realising.
Anyhow, as for Nick... he's not a bad person but his attitude to staff was appalling - if you were favoured, you could do exactly what you wanted without question - if you weren't, you spent every day walking on eggshells, trying to avoid becoming the next patsy.
And, depending on how closely you worked with him, you'll know the real reasons that people are expressing their true feelings today. I, for one, have never worked in a more disorganised environment, nor one that ran so exclusively on blame and consequences.
I wish Nick good luck in his future ventures but I would never ever be able to recommend him as someone to work with or for.
One question remains though - who will design the yacht club brochure for free now?
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I agree that the "industry" is close knit in this city, but why would you be putting your foot in it?
It's easier to shoot from cover than stand out in the open admittedly. But regardless of what battles you're choosing to fight, no-one likes a sniper.
Favoured? Did he ever ask anything outside of your/others terms of employment? If so, you/others have the choice. The only eggshells I'm aware of are the fragile egos that people carry around with them.
If you worked in an environment so disorganised, may be you should have tried something to change it? Keeping your mouth shut leaves you in no position to apportion blame yourself.
It's all to easy to gloat and point fingers. But in a few months when you've forgotten about all of this, some won't have. Then who'll have put their foot in it without realising?
As someone who has worked with Nick previously, I have to disagree with the comments on here. Seems there are some bitter people out there...maybe it's time they all moved on as well!
All,
I have to say Nick is getting a rough ride here. Whilst he's not everyones cup of tea he doesn't deserve the public flogging he is getting. In his early days of being at Connectpoint he brought in some credible pieces of business and began to move the agency on. Connectpoint was an independent creative agency which found itself in the hands of an organisation such as Hasgrove with a ruthless focus on the bottom line and very little regard for the craft of advertising and the history of the agency. Things were always going to be difficult.
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I can only judge someone on how I find them and its sad to see him get the amount of negative feedback he has been getting on here.
I personally wish him all the best in his future venture(s)
What about Amaze PR are they closing down and merging with The Chase?
I am shocked that a design agency is taking on an advertising arm a few years this would have been unthinkable
Whether you like him or not it is clear Amaze Advertising was not ran as well as it could have been and as the business world goes it is ultimately the Managing Directors responsibility.
Hopefully he will be taking some learnings from his time at Connectpoint/Amaze my empathy is with the staff who are worried about whether they have jobs to go to.
It would be great if The Chase can make this work. I really hope they do.
I am a bit confused as to what exactly they are getting though? As far as I knew (and judging by that old Crime Stoppers ad they posted on here) there wasn't really any advertising work left at Amaze anyway. Was there?
Mark
Your comments are absolutely unbelievable, you clearly have no real understanding of what staff experienced here. If you were working in that environment then you would appreciate that, legally, some of us are unable to comment due to previous allegations that have been made. I don't think you really appreciate the gravity of the comments that have been made, or taken time to be in their shoes and understand why the comments have to be made in a 'sniper' manner. If you look back through the comments, just have another think about what people are saying but approach it from their point of view instead of defending something you clearly don't know anything about.
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Dear anonymous,
Obviously I have no idea what was going on at Amaze as I don't work there. Legally you're not able to comment? But you're broadcasting your feelings in public. Seems a little odd to me. But what do I know? (admittedly while you wear your safety "anonymous" blanket ).
At least you're admitting to being a sniper.
How can I possibly approach this from more than what I've read. I'm not defending anything, but you seem intent on going on the offensive.
Seems like someone needs a hug.
Back to work now, got to make that logo bigger. Advertising, Bloody Hell.
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What babble -
- Chase good luck.
- Nick - hope the future's brighter than the past
-"Mark, stop being so patronising and get back to your Cooking For One book".
Love Anonymous"
Oh the irony of it all...
Cooking for one? I'll leave that to you. Next.
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Firstly, congratulations on putting your name forward amongst the faceless souls, but I can't help feeling that you've already posted anonymously.
Regular parties and weekend breaks are not what make a good agency, they are added perks. Admittedly staff morale plays a huge part as I doubt that creative juices flow well in the acidity you describe.
Amaze will move on even if under a new guise much as Nick will.
I'm finding it a little difficult to understand how you can be unfairly dismissed if you've been freelance for the last three years? I'm sure it'll all come out in July. Obviously you cannot discuss this due to legal reasons. Good Luck.
My final comments I'm afraid, I fear I have already jumped in with both feet in size 13's. But I'll stand by every word I've written, unlike some who have removed theirs.
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this isn't a dating site Chris...
Graeme Longstaff
thepleasuremaster@hotmale.com
0982 930 7700
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Right ok, although saying I wasn't going to post again, you now have me hooked in the bottom lip.
Firstly, I'll apologise for questioning whether you'd posted previously.
Secondly, why delete your previous post? When you freely admit to putting your name to something you've written.
This proves a little confusing when the thread is read back in its entirety.
As for the freelance part, I'll take your word for that too, why should I question it? Just be interested in who payed the NI and Tax?
That's it from me.
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I barely know Nick having only met him once and I do not know the details of the story.
What I do know is the comments on this board from an impartial point of view does not make for pleasant reading to the wider world and do not portray the industry in a great light.
The sheer venom of some of the comments make the industry look self serving and small minded (although I accept completely there are clearly numerous emotive issues involved such as people's careers, livlihoods etc so can understand the passions aroused)
This type of thing may not project a great image to to perspective clients who may just come across this?
Recently I've seen other similarly unpleasant comments on other stories - is this becoming a trend?
Maybe the time has come for the team at the Drum to either draw a line under anonymous posting or clearly set out some basic rules of engagement for posting and maybe consider a basic level of transparent moderation,
If the status quo prevails we will only see more of this type of venom in future as people assume it is socially acceptable to use this comment facility in this fashion and my guess is that would further devalue the worth of this type of facility.
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Secondly, why delete your previous post?
Mark - he/she might not necessarily have deleted their post. The Drum can delete them themselves or if someone reports the comment.
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Yo bro!
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As someone who worked opposite Pete Richardson during Connectpoint's meteoric rise is the late 90s, the soul of the agency is now The Beach. I hope they repeat the feat there.
Good to know you're still causing trouble, Dave!
Best News I have heard this century. About time someone realised.
No surprises there
It was a long time coming, I just hope that The Chase don't inherit the financial legacy. The artworkers and creative team will be a great asset to The Chase and will flourish.
Does this mean Amaze will need a new brand wheel as it is no longer a pan-European, fully integrated, online marketing company. Specialists in creative advertising, public relations & digital marketing.
Know any good agencies who could do the rebrand?
Coming to a agency near you....... I hope this man doesnt manage to blag his way into another good agency! How did it take them this long to realise???!
Great studio team will fit in with The Chase really well much better place for them to demonstrate their abilities
A popular chap by all accounts. As a neutral observer from Scotland, keep the comments coming. Most entertaining.
Every time I look at the picture his eyes go red. This didn't happen until the comments came.
I think he should write a book! "How to win friends...."
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