Cossette announced Tuesday the hiring of a new creative director at its Chicago office – Chuck Rachford.
Chuck Rachford
Rachford, an award-winning creative director and known quantity in the Chicago advertising community, began as the office’s new executive creative director Tuesday. His awards include The One Show, CLIOs and 10 Cannes Lions (including two Grand Prix awards for Bud Light). He spent 14 years at DDB, Chicago, where he had the role of SVP/group creative director until the move.
Cossette Chicago opened in May after the agency won the contract for McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Co-op. Rachford is the first creative director for the office, which until now has relied on Toronto co-chief creative officer David Daga to lead creative efforts. (Daga has been the lead on the McDonald’s account in Toronto.)
“We engaged with a headhunter and threw the net pretty wide in terms of where might find talent from,” said Alyssa Huggins, managing director of Cossette in Chicago. “He’s got a great reel and he’s a really high-calibre talent, which is primarily what we we’re looking for. All his great work on Capital One, all the awards he’s won in the past.”
“It’s not every day you get a chance to help open an agency — let alone an agency with one of the most iconic brands in the world already on the roster,” said Rachford in a statement. “I’m honored to be part of the team. Cossette has a great track record of creating award winning work that drives business in Canada. Our goal will be to build on that success. I’m excited to help shape the work and grow their first office in the U.S. And, most importantly, get more people through the doors at McDonalds.”
The office in Chicago, which has now expanded to 12 staff, has remained focused on the McDonald’s account, says Huggins. The shop creates a blend of original and adapted national work for the McDonald’s group, which includes 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants.
Ultimately, says Huggins, Cossette Chicago hopes to win new clients, hire more people (they’re currently looking for two new creatives) and become a mid-sized agency.
“Over time, as people have settled into their roles, we’ll start to look to expand our business,” said Huggins. “It’s great to be in this market. We look forward to making an impression.”
