Brian Hickling has left his position as senior vice-president and creative director at Halifax-based agency Colour.
Chris Keevill, president of Colour, described the parting last week as mutual and amicable and praised Hickling for his contributions to the firm.
“He is, in my mind, one of the strongest strategic creative directors in the country and he’s going to go on to more great things,” said Keevill. “This change is just one of those changes that’s natural and typical in agency life.
“There’s no drama or discord. We’re leaving on very positive and appreciative terms.”
Hickling echoed Keevill’s description of the split and indicated that he would take his time before deciding on his next professional move.
“I feel like it’s a good time to take a breather and see what’s available in the marketplace for me,” said Hickling. “I’m very excited about the future and my biggest hope is to be able to stay and practice here in Atlantic Canada.”
Prior to his stint at Colour, Hickling co-founded and served as creative director at Bright Red Communications in Toronto.
Along with Keevill, Hickling was a key figure in the transformation of Corporate Communications Limited (CCL), which relaunched as Colour in 2006.
Three other employees were let go by the agency in recent days. However, Keevill said the layoffs were unrelated to Hickling’s departure and that the timing was coincidental.
Keevill added that while the layoffs come several months after many agencies in other parts of the country reduced staff, the timing reflects the comparatively delayed impact of the recession in Eastern Canada.
“The economic downturn has not hit Atlantic Canada in the same way that it’s hit other geographies,” said Keevill. “The effects here have hit later than in other parts of North America.”
