180 hires Mike Harris as Global Chief Strategy Officer, continues global business growth for 2015

Cristina Blanaru Business, Creativity, People

Agency vet Mike Harris joins ad agency 180 this week in the newly created position of Global Chief Strategy Officer. The hire comes after two years of accelerated revenue and staffing growth between 180’s collective offices in Amsterdam and Los Angeles.

Harris most recently served as President of Creative Advertising Services for Deluxe Entertainment. Prior to that, his impressive career includes running DDB California as President & CEO, founding agency twofifteenmccann San Francisco, serving as Chief Strategy Officer for TBWA\Chiat\Day, San Francisco, and spending five years each as an account person at Goodby Silverstein & Partners and Y&R in San Francisco. His work has garnered multiple global Effie’s and Cannes Grand Prix’s, and he has a campaign in the Clio Hall of Fame. Along with his creative and strategic accolades, Harris has helped drive growth for clients across a variety of categories.

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There isn’t an agency or brand in the world that wouldn’t benefit from the strategic and creative thinking of Mike Harris (…) We’re lucky to have him onboard to help us continue 180’s momentum.

Michael Allen

180 Global Chief Executive Officer

Harris will work across both offices to drive new business growth as well as tackle high-level strategic opportunities for 180’s clients. He joins the agency’s executive management team; including William Gelner (Chief Creative Officer, 180LA), Michael Allen (Global Chief Executive Officer), Al Moseley (President & Chief Creative Officer, 180 Amsterdam), and Chris Mendola (Founder/Chairman).

 They know who they are and what they stand for, and I have always admired the work that 180 does and the agency’s people and culture (…) I’ve wanted to be part of that for a long time. I’m beyond excited to help Mike, Chris, William and Al take 180 to the next level.

Mike Harris

Mike Harris’ appointment follows 180 Amsterdam’s hiring two of the most highly-awarded creative professionals in the industry—Executive Creative Directors, Dave Canning and Dan Treichel. Their books include breakthrough work for ESPN, Southern Comfort, and Climate Name Change, among others.

The success of our clients depends on people who can blow the doors off conventional thinking, and Mike has plenty of dynamite

Al Moseley,

President % Chief Creative Officer, 180 Amsterdam.

The Omnicom subsidiary had numerous account wins last year and grew their business with existing clients like HP (who now engages both offices), Mitsubishi, PlayStation, Qatar Airways, and DHL. Other clients include Pepsi, Expedia, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Boost Mobile, and Replay Jeans.

Last year 180LA won two Effies for strategic effectiveness with Expedia and adidas, while 180 Amsterdam was awarded the Euro Grand Prix Effie for its work on PlayStation.

180 is an award winning international creative agency with a client roster that includes formidable brands such as adidas, Boost Mobile, Expedia, Mitsubishi Motors, HP, Pepsi, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Qatar Airlines, ING, DHL and Sony PlayStation among others. With over 200 professionals spanning offices in Amsterdam and Los Angeles, 180 employees are driven by the spirit inherent in the agency’s name – changing perspective from the tried and tired, to create ideas that move brands forward.