Manchester-based creative agency Leith has bolstered its Health Division with the appointment of Jon Chapman as executive creative director (ECD).
Chapman will be responsible for leading the creative output of Leith’s health clients including Sanofi, Hoya Vision Care, EFPIA, IFPMA and Worldwide Cancer Research, and working with teams across the agency to develop creative strategies that produce effective creative work.
Chapman joins fellow Leith ECDs Phil Evans and Troy Farnworth at the agency, and will report to Richard Marsham, group managing partner. He starts this month.
Chapman joins from BBDO New York, where he was chief creative officer (CCO) responsible for growing the agency’s health offering and was part of the North American Creative Council for the network. Prior to joining BBDO, he spent over a decade at Havas Lynx, joining when it was a small design studio in Manchester and leaving 10 years later as CCO when it had grown into a global health agency employing 650 people.
Group managing partner Marsham said: “We are thrilled to have someone of Jon’s calibre and pedigree joining the agency. He has extensive experience of working on large global campaigns and smaller local initiatives, across multiple issues and geographies, and culturally he’s a great fit too. Jon joins the agency at a pivotal time as we look to raise our game again and build upon the success we have achieved over the last five years.”
Brian Coane, partner, health at Leith added: “Over the last few years we have produced creative work that has been recognised at the top global awards. Jon’s hiring is another sign of our commitment to producing ground-breaking creative work in a sector where communications that connect with people can really make a difference for patients and brands.”
Chapman said: “I have always admired the spirit and ambition of the team at Leith which is reflected in the quality of work coming out of the agency. The opportunity to move back to Manchester and build upon Leith’s unfettered creativity and ambition was too good to miss.”
The incoming ECD has picked up gongs at several major award shows over the course of his career including Cannes, Clios, D&AD, Creative Circle and LIA. He was part of the team at Havas Lynx when it was awarded Healthcare Agency of the Year at Cannes Lions in 2018. He has also sat on international award jury panels including Clios, LIA, D&AD and Creative Floor.
Leith has enjoyed a strong period of growth within its Health Division, with revenue quadrupling over the last three years. Starting off as a team of three with a handful of clients, the division has now grown to a team of ten across over twenty clients.
