Rapp has strengthened its creative team by luring OgilvyOne design director Hiten Bhatt as associate creative director of design, effectively number two to the agency’s creative director of design, Adrian Whatman.
Having started his career at Haygarth in 1999, Bhatt (pictured, far left) then had spells at Oyster Partners, the Open University and Chameleon Creative before joining OgilvyOne in 2005, where he rose up the ranks.
On LinkedIn, his former boss at the agency, Cordell Burke, wrote: “It’s no surprise to me that his initial enthusiastic talent has developed into award-winning work and leadership which has inspired others to take on his high standards. In short, Hiten is a great guy and a great designer.”
At OgilvyOne, Bhatt worked on American Express, British Airways, BT and IBM, and picked up a hatful of industry awards, including DMA, Echo and EuroBest.
Rapp has also hired Cathy Crocker (pictured, far right) from TBWA as a digital designer, who picked up a 2016 D&AD New Blood award, and was also shortlisted for a Cannes Young Lions.
Whatman (pictured, centre), who has been at the agency since 2007 and was recently appointed to the creative board, said: “Design is no longer a service; it sits within the heart of our creative process and is an integral part of conceptual and strategic development at Rapp.
“We are not just building a team of designers – both Hiten and Cathy are joining a hub of experts and innovators, challenged with ensuring customers are fully engaged with the creative output. In the modern marketing world where competition is fierce, the importance of design has never been greater.”
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