VCCP had a big growth year in 2021. It won unicorn UK brand, cinch, the coveted TfL account and significant pieces of global business for White Claw and Pret à Manger. At the end of 2021, VCCP Group launched Girl&Bear, its new global content creation studio offering borderless production and a new model for making.
And now it is building an even stronger creative force. VCCP London executive creative director, Darren Bailes, steps up into the role of global chief creative officer of VCCP Group. Creative duo, Jonny Parker and Chris Birch, move into joint ECD roles. Caroline Rawlings has been promoted to creative director and Kimberley Gill re-joins the agency as creative director.
As group chief creative officer, Bailes will oversee the creative output across all of VCCP’s eight offices in their global network, working closely with their executive creative directors in London, Madrid, Prague, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. He will work closely with International CEO, Julian Douglas; Adrian Coleman, founder and Group CEO; and Stephanie Brimacombe, Group CMO.
Bailes stated, “Our creative department couldn’t be in more capable, talented, funny and charming hands. It’s a pleasure to hand over the reins to Jonny who’s been here from boy to man, and to Chris who joined in 2013 and helped to supercharge both of their trajectories.
“I made them creative directors after the Cadbury pitch win. And the work they have done for Cadbury and other Mondelez brands more than qualifies them for the ECD role. Mum’s birthday, Cadbury Twirl Presale, Donate your words. All brilliant. Not to mention Make Them Giants O2 Rugby World Cup campaign, Anti London Arms Fair campaign for Amnesty International and Why not? for easyJet. They will continue to run the Cadbury account globally as well as lead the 60-strong creative department in London.”
Jonathan Parker and Chris Birch added, “We’re thrilled to be taking on this role. We love VCCP – the goodness, the madness, the people and the work. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on its unique culture and fostering a wonderful, inclusive environment for all to do the best work their mums can be proud of.
“Caroline and Kim are going to be a huge part of this and we’re thrilled they’re here.”
Caroline Rawlings has been at VCCP London since 2018, having worked on McDonald’s, Kellogg and DfT in her previous lives at Leo Burnett, Dentsu and McGarry Bowen. She took a few years out to have a couple of daughters, before joining VCCP as an associate creative director. As creative director she works across various accounts including TfL and Bassetts Vitamins, most recently leading the new brand positioning for Green & Black’s and Dairylea.
Kimberley Gill completes the new senior creative line-up and will start at VCCP on January 13 as creative director. She comes directly from BBH London where she was creative director and partner and worked on clients, Volkswagen, Barclays and Refuge. Gill was previously a creative at VCCP and left in 2007. She is also an active mentor for The One Club and was named in Campaign and Creative Equals’ 30 Female Creative Trailblazers.
Coleman commented, “These promotions and hires signal a new and exciting era for VCCP Group as we supercharge and unite our creative offering both globally and locally. We’re incredibly proud to have experienced another year of exponential growth due to our unique offering and relentless focus on our clients’ businesses.”
