Droga5 CCO Tim Gordon joins Zulu Alpha Kilo as a Partner & CCO at Its First International Office

After what agency founder and CCO Zak Mroueh describes as more than a year-long and “patient” search for the right person, Zulu Alpha Kilo announced Tim Gordon as its new CCO and partner. Tim will be leading the agency’s first international office in New York City.

Gordon, a 14-year Droga5 veteran and co-CCO, began his career in advertising as one of the first 40 Droga5 NYC employees, starting as a writer back in 2008. Gordon helped grow the agency during its formative years.

During his long stint at Droga5, Gordon worked on almost everything that came through Droga5’s door including Coke Zero, The New York Times, American Express Travel, Clearasil, AirWick, Motorola, Harry’s, Under Armour, Chase, Mattress Firm, Paramount+ and Reform Alliance.

Over the years, his work has been recognized by every major industry organization. His work for PUMA After Hours Athlete and Vesta garnered a Grand Prix at Cannes and One Show’s inaugural Green Pencil, respectively. Under Armour’s Michael Phelps film earned Gordon his second Grand Prix at Cannes and was named Ad of the Year by Adweek. Gordon was the driving force behind The New York Times’ buzzworthy campaign, “The Truth is Hard,” which placed the Times at the center of the conversation about the importance of a free press with a goal to reaffirm its role in today’s political climate. His efforts led to two more Grand Prix Lions at Cannes as well as The New York Times continuing to break subscription records.

“Tim is one of the world’s top creative minds, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s found his home at Zulu. He’s the absolute real deal with an understanding of how to build great brands and create brilliant work with strategic substance. I am so thrilled and excited to partner with him and build something amazing,” says Mroueh.

As a partner and chief creative officer at Zulu Alpha Kilo, Gordon is tasked with leading the charge of building the New York office from the ground up with the support of Mroueh and President and CEO Mike Sutton. “Over the past six years, there have been dozens of U.S. opportunities we’ve had to turn down because we didn’t have a U.S. office. Problem solved,” adds Sutton.

Toronto and Vancouver based Zulu Alpha Kilo has been recognized as one of the top independent agencies in the world. The agency first made its mark in the U.S. when it won Ad Age’s Small Agency of the Year in 2016 and repeated in 2017 as International Small Agency of the Year. In 2018, Forbes named Zulu as one of the top 100 innovators of the year and as one of the best small companies in North America. And Fast Company has named Zulu a “world-changing” firm three years in a row.

Despite, or maybe because of, not following industry conventions, Zulu has grown steadily since its founding in 2008, having won work from major brands such as Audi, Bell Canada, Coca-Cola, Google, Harley-Davidson, Subaru, and Uber, just to name a few. It straddles the line as a creative agency that specializes in modern 360 branding with design and digital at its core. 

Zulu challenged the norms of production by investing early in its own production studio, Zulubot. With a full recording studio, eight editing suites and its own roster of directors and editors, Zulu produces thousands of pieces of content each year, achieving great efficiencies for its clients. This includes everything from documentaries to new digital media. Zulu’s media arm brings together creative and media during the planning process, to the delight of the agency’s clients and creative people.

While the agency has been in the awards column ever since it started, this past year has been its best on record. The Epica Awards in Europe named Zulu Independent Agency of the Year, as judged by the toughest jury of all: the world’s trade journalists. This was accompanied by Campaign US’s Independent Agency of the Year, The Drum UK’s Agency of the Year, Campaign Global’s Creative Agency of the Year (Silver) and Global Independent Agency of the Year (Bronze), and Ad Age’s International Small Agency of the Year (Silver) as well as being ranked as one of the top 10 independent agencies at the D&AD and One Show in 2022.

Most recently, the agency won six Cannes Lions including Gold for Pfaff Harley-Davidson’s “Tough Turban.” Zulu designed a turban for Sikh motorcyclists made from a fabric that can be folded like traditional Sikh headwear, but which hardens on impact.

“I was really struck by the work, irreverence and founding philosophy of Zulu Alpha Kilo. Zak and I share the same creative values and strong belief that everything should be about the quality of work we put out into the world. I’m excited to help build the agency and achieve the founding vision of becoming the world’s number one creative company,” said Gordon.