Goodby Silverstein & Partners Names Ralph Watson as Executive Creative Director, Creative Lead, in Detroit

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GSP) today announced the hiring of Ralph Watson, formerly of BBDO New York, as Executive Creative Director and Associate Partner at Goodby Silverstein & Partners Detroit. He is expected to aggressively expand the office's portfolio. Watson will also share the creative leadership on the Chevrolet account.

In making the appointment, Jeff Goodby, Co-founder and Co-chairman of GSP, said, "With GM's goal of making Chevrolet a global brand, we had an opportunity to bring in someone with incredible creative horsepower. It is all part of our plan to move more and more of the Chevrolet creative work to Detroit."

At BBDO New York, Watson served as Executive Creative Director on the AT&T business. Previously, he'd spent three years at Saatchi & Saatchi New York as Creative Director on Miller Brewing, Wendy's and General Mills Fruit Snacks. An art director by training and an award-winning creative veteran, Watson has also had extensive experience at Arnold, Team One and GSD&M.

"I think it's the most interesting, challenging and possibly the most rewarding job in advertising right now," Watson said of his new post.

"It's the only job I can think of that makes me excited by the unknowns," Watson added. "Almost any other job at that level just felt like it would predictably run its course in two years' time. This feels more like pioneering. With the full support of Jeff and Rich, you're a pioneer, but you have a howitzer in your wagon."

"We are delighted that Ralph can join us and offer his talents," Goodby said. "He's also a real mensch, and Detroit is a place that requires a lot of heart. Ralph's got that."

About Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Goodby Silverstein & Partners, a unit of the Omnicom Group, is one of the world's most respected and most awarded advertising agencies. Founded in 1983, the company is based in San Francisco and has over 700 employees serving a broad array of national and international accounts, including Hewlett-Packard, Frito-Lay, Haagen-Dazs, California Milk Processors Board ("got milk?"), Adobe, Sprint, NBA and many others. For more information on GSP, please visit goodbysilverstein.com.

SOURCE Goodby, Silverstein & Partners