The&Partnership bolsters leadership in Vancouver

The&Partnership continues to add to its executive ranks with the appointment of Jack Shute as business director and partner overseeing its Vancouver office.

The agency, which launched in Canada 14 months ago and has Telus as its sole client, said Shute (pictured above) would oversee the west coast business for the Vancouver-based telecom giant.

Shute, who is from the United Kingdom, spent the past six years in senior management roles at the agency’s affiliate, CHI&Partners, in London. He worked on brands such as Lexus, Travelodge and Coutts. He’s also behind Lexus’ “Amazing in Motion” brand platform, most recently completing the Hoverboard project, which became a big hit on social media.

“Jack is from our network so he knows how we think and how we operate, which is obviously really important,” Christopher Andrews, president at The&Partnership, told Marketing. Andrews joined the company in September alongside executive creative director Ron Smrczek.

“It’s also important to us that, wherever possible, we are introducing people with a world view and who have some international experience that we can translate to the local market,” Andrews said.

Shute started his career at TBWA\London, initially on the Müller portfolio of brands, and later worked on brands such as Absolut Vodka, Sony PlayStation (including the launch of PlayStation3 and PSP), Nissan Europe, National Express, GSK and Skype.

In a statement, Shute said Telus wanted “big, media neutral ideas that are game changing – both creatively and commercially” and that he is working with the team across the country, which includes about 75 employees, 15 of which are in Vancouver.

The agency is also looking for other brands as it grows in Canada. Andrews said the agency’s plan was to start looking for new clients in its second year of business, which started a couple of months ago.