Karmarama chiefs walk with Ryan

The fall out from Karmarama’s decision to appoint a new creative chief over Caitlin Ryan is continuing after group executive creative directors Sam Walker and Joe De Souza have followed her out of the agency front door.
Nik Studzinski was appointed chief creative officer at the end of May, a move which is understood to have incensed group ECD Ryan, who thought she was in line for the job following the departure of co-founder and creative boss Dave Buonaguidi.
Buonaguidi left at the end of last year but was succeeded by Droga5 Europe ECD Studzinski.
As one agency source said at the time: “It was always going to end in tears”.
Walker and Joe De Souza left late last week; their next move is not known, although a reunion with Ryan could well be on the cards, once she gets another job.
They had joined Karmarama as creative directors from Fallon in 2010 and were made partners and ECDs three years later, and promoted to group ECDs in 2014.
Walker said: “We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved at Karmarama over the past five years.
“We’ve done some of our best work here and have helped grow the company from a 60-person ad agency to the 300-strong, progressive and multidisciplinary business it is now. We wish them every success in the future.”
Karmarama group chief executive Ben Bilboul has attempted to calm the waters. He said: “Sam and Joe are hugely talented and fantastically hard working. I’d like to thank them for all the late nights, the long weekends and last, but not least, their exceptional work.”

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