WDMP executive creative director Gary Sharpen is leaving the agency after three years to take on what he calls “new challenges”.
Sharpen joined WDMP in January 2008 as its first executive creative director with a brief to raise the agency’s creative profile.
He has been in the business for more than 25 years, starting his career at Ogilvy & Mather. He then moved to Saatchi & Saatchi, where he stayed for ten years, ultimately becoming integrated creative director.
Sharpen left to co-found Leonardo with Steve Barton in 2000. By 2004, he was hired by Miles Murphy as creative director at Red Cell Response. Murphy quit and was replaced by Martin Troughton, whom Sharpen had worked with at O&M. They relaunched Red Cell as Sharpen Troughton Owens but the business collapsed within two years.
He has worked in most forms of integrated creative media on clients such as the British Army, National Lottery, Toyota, Walt Disney, VSO and Agent Provocateur.
Sharpen has always been passionate about nurturing young talent, and works extensively with colleges (including being a BA Hons External Examiner), writing for the press and five years as a mentor in the NABS Fast Forward programme.
He created and runs ‘The Shelf’, an initiative to support young integrated creatives through briefs, placements and an awards evening, now in its tenth year.
Sharpen said: “After three great years with the agency, I have decided the time is right to take on new challenges. Currently, I’m working on my graduate scheme, The Shelf, as well as developing two very exciting projects that I have in the pipeline.”
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God knows what Gary was doing there anyway. He deserves better…