Amsterdam, NL, July 7, 2011—Digital agency Blast Radius continues to drive momentum and growth within its Amsterdam agency with three very senior appointments; Stefan Hawes joins as general manager, Andrew Watson as senior creative director, and Simon Neate-Stidson as strategic director.
Founded in 1998, Blast Radius Amsterdam built its reputation on its award-winning website work for Heineken, Philips and Nintendo. Today, the Amsterdam agency employs 85 people, supports sister agencies in London, Paris and Hamburg and delivers work for Michelin, Bacardi, NIVEA, Starbucks and Tommy Hilfiger.
The agency’s new general manager Stefan Hawes joins from TBWA in Vancouver, Canada where he was managing director. Hawes is an experienced brand builder developing consumer-oriented brand communication for BMW, The Clorox Company, and TELUS – a leading Canadian telecommunications company.
Andrew Watson joins as senior creative director from Amsterdam Worldwide, where he was creative director, responsible for the award-winning Onitsuka Tiger work. His talent for creating award winning, integrated campaigns for some of the world’s top brands, will add value to the agency’s business. Prior to Amsterdam Worldwide, Watson who relocated from London in 2001, spent time at Blueberryfrog, the digital arm of Strawberryfrog Amsterdam.
The third member of this new leadership team is Simon Neate-Stidson, who joins as strategy director. Simon moved to Amsterdam nine years ago and worked at Wieden & Kennedy for three years, and then for the last six years as a freelance strategist with a number of top agencies including 180, Strawberry Frog, Amsterdam Worldwide and Perfect Fools. Before relocating to Amsterdam, Simon spent 12 years in London at MORI Research, TBWA and Saatchi & Saatchi. Over the years he has developed international strategies andmulti-channel campaigns for many brands including Nike, Panasonic, Visa, Honda, ASICS and Onitsuka Tiger, Nikon, Western Union, Sharp, DHL, Heineken, Pampers, BBC, NBC, and Cadbury
Commenting on her senior hires in Amsterdam, Riki Stadeler, Managing Director, Blast Radius Europe said: “The expansion of our leadership team in Amsterdam is a clear indication of our success and increasing reputation in this marketplace as an agency that builds brands and drives sales. We offer global clients digital strategic thinking as well as a long-term vision for their digital communication. With their strong background in award winning integrated communication and brand building Stefan, Andrew and Simon will help to continue the momentum of Amsterdam’s growth and strengthen its reputation as an agency that helps clients create deep connections with their consumers around a shared ideal.”
Continues Stadeler: “Blast Radius works with a ‘networked brand’ model to help marketers build brand equity and fuel sales. Our digital expertise shows brands how to adapt to a world where advertising is losing its influence and consumers place more value on their interactions with online networks of friends, peers and advisors.”
Commenting on his appointment as general manager of Amsterdam,Stefan Hawes said: “
“I joined Blast to be part of the agency evolution that they are pushing forward – they are becoming the leaders in going beyond conventional communications creating deeper engagement with consumers, which I believe facilitates a long term, always-on approach to brand building.
I am sure I speak for Andrew and Simon when I say brands are going to have to build something really special to improve the user experience and this is where we can help clients. As we move forward our thinking is not about technology or channel so much as about value.”
