Claude Carrier, president and CEO of DentsuBos, is retiring after a 35-year career in advertising.
Carrier will remain in the position until June 24, and will be succeeded by Stephen Kiely, executive vice-president at DentsuBos.
When asked why he’s retiring now, Carrier said, “I’m turning 60 this year. When you turn 60 you say, ‘what have I got left to do for myself, and when am I going to do it? Thirty-five years of advertising has been such an exciting ride and now I’m ready to start thinking about other things that will make my life interesting.”
His retirement plan is to not have any plans, at least for the first few months. “I set myself a first objective, which is to do nothing for a few months,” said Carrier. “I just want to enjoy life, learn to breathe and enjoy the good weather… And then we’ll see.”
Though he has a long career in advertising, Carrier actually started out in human resources at supermarket chain Provigo in 1979, then moved into a marketing role. “I thought it looked way more interesting than HR,” he said. But after meeting Provigo’s agency, Cossette, Carrier “fell in love” and joined the agency in 1982 as a marketing executive. He rose through the ranks, eventually becoming VP and partner.
After 15 years with Cossette, Carrier moved on to Bos, opening the Montreal-based agency’s Toronto office in 1998. Carrier was instrumental in orchestrating the merger of Bos and Dentsu in 2012, and took the helm of the new DentsuBos. He helped launch the Dentsu Aegis-owned digital agency 360i in Canada in 2013, and Dentsu Media in 2015.
While he’s had many career accomplishments, Carrier said the highlight was being associated with so many interesting, creative and brilliant people. “This business is fascinating,” he said. “I don’t know how many businesses have as many people who have to discuss and come up with ideas every day.”
“If I go back 35 years ago, in some ways it was a simpler business, and now it’s way more complex, but I think complexity has added so much interest,” he added. “Every time I see young people nowadays I say to them, ‘you’re entering a fascinating business that is getting better every year—more challenging, more interesting, more complex.”
Asked about his successor, Carrier said Kiely is a natural-born leader. “People gravitate to him and they just love him,” he said. “I announced the choice and there was immediate applause.”
Kiely started his career at Dentsu Canada as a media coordinator in 2003 and quickly rose through the ranks. In his most recent role, Kiely oversaw business development, client relations, talent management, and planning and strategy.
“He’s very interested in people and their own success and careers. He’s the same with clients—they know he’s interested in their business and their success,” said Carrier.
“He has his own style and his own vision and I think it will be a great way for DentsuBos to move forward.”
