Continuing to push his creative agenda at INNOCEAN, Jeremy Craigen is set to launch a new office in Berlin. Principally it will operate as a creative hub for INNOCEAN’s European agencies in Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Istanbul, Moscow, Paris and Milan, developing pan-European work for its Hyundai and Kia clients.
But Craigen has added expectations, “For starters, Berlin is gunning for the title ‘start-up hub of Europe’, so what better city to open an office. And we’re approaching every aspect of the set up and operation of this new agency with the start-up spirit; new space, new people and new ways of taking our clients brands to market.”
To creatively lead the new operation, Craigen has appointed Rich Muntz as Chief Creative Officer. Previously at J. Walter Thompson, Muntz lead a creative and new business resurgence of the agency brand in Melbourne, with multiple wins at Cannes, D&AD, Effies, Spikes, AdFest, OneShow and Clios and a string of new business wins. He was then seconded to set up sister agency BlueHive Australia to relaunch the Ford brand.
“With every exchange I have with Jeremy and the euro and global teams, I’ve got to know what makes INNOCEAN tick. They’re supper hungry to do great work, incredibly open to new methods of working and hell bent on upping the creative product and growing business. I am, in equal measure, honoured and excited by the opportunities,” said Muntz of the new role.
The new Berlin hub is set to open in September of this year.
About INNOCEAN Worldwide Europe GmbH
INNOCEAN Worldwide Europe (IWE) is an independent, challenger communications company first established in 2006 to provide 360° marcomms services to the Hyundai & KIA brands in Europe. In the last ten years, it has enjoyed rapid expansion with offices in eight European markets and now employs 250 staff from 45 different nationalities. With offices in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Prague, Moscow and Istanbul, the company is Europe’s fastest growing communications network.
INNOCEAN has forged its creative reputation through best-in-class work in automotive but has recently announced its intention to venture into new sectors; capitalising on demand from clients for the highly integrated, collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach which defines INNOCEAN’S work.
INNOCEAN’S belief is that, in a difficult economic climate and fast changing market, clients are growing increasingly frustrated with a traditional “silo-mentality” agency model which is still largely characteristic of the advertising industry. INNOCEAN employs multi-skilled teams with expertise from “above-the-line” to “space & design” – and for a range of services in-between. The company’s ethos is built on its Hyundai Motor Group legacy of radical innovation and integration across the value chain, offering diverse services in-house that puts the customer at the heart of all brand conversations. IWE adopts a focused consumer engagement model, dedicated to creating timely consumer connections to ensure a more fluid integration of ideas during the customer journey and across multiple touch-points.
IWE is part of INNOCEAN Worldwide, a global communications network with three regional headquarters, 22 offices and over 1,500 employees in 17 countries. Since its Global HQ was established in Seoul, INNOCEAN has won over 60 international awards, including six Cannes Lions.
