Jimmy Ashworth announced as executive creative director at Neathawk Dubuque & Packett

The American full-service agency Neathawk Dubuque & Packett announced recently that they will be appointing award winning creative talent Jimmy Ashworth as executive creative director on the 2nd of June. Ashworth previously worked as the lead creative in advertising at audio firm Bose, where he was responsible for the advertising of the company's Home Entertainment division. Whilst at Bose, he developed the audio technology behemoth's first global integrated brand campaign for the Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker System, the company's first mobile product. At ND&P, Ashworth will serve on the agency's senior leadership team, overseeing creative work at the  Richmond and Roanoke, VA; Chattanooga; and Raleigh, NC offices.

Ashworth previously worked as the lead creative in advertising at audio firm Bose, where he was responsible for the advertising of the company's Home Entertainment division

Ashworth spearheaded the strategic direction of Bose's “Committing random acts of music,” direction, with riffs on the theme appearing in advertising all over the world. He was a key figure in Bose's campaign to help the brand appeal to a younger, broader consumer base by focusing on the emotional benefit provided by Bose products. He also developed other global integrated campaigns for the company's Home Entertainment, Headphone, Automotive and Pro divisions. Just because he's known primarily for his work at Bose, doesn't mean that he's new to the advertising agency game though. In fact, Ashworth began his career at The Martin Agency and Arnold's Richmond office as an art director, before heading to AKQA in San Francisco. Throughout his illustrious career, he's also worked at agencies such as TBWA\Chiat\Day, McKinney and Mullen, and as as associate creative director at Sawyer Riley Compton in Atlanta, creating work for clients such as  Washington Mutual, Comcast, Ping, Ritz-Carlton, Hanes and Stihl.

Jimmy Ashworth

Daniel Fell, president and CEO of ND&P believes that Ashworth's work at Bose speaks volumes about his experience in developing brand messages that resonant worldwide,’’ and that “His history of creating ads that are ambitious in scope and travel well,” will be a great asset to the agency. Fell was also enthusiastic concerning his new charge's experience, underlining his “Incredible creative portfolio from his years at some of this country’s best advertising agencies. In Ashworth, he sees “Someone who not only truly understands the importance of creating a strong brand message, but exactly how to do it.” Fell calls Ashworth a “Natural raconteur who understands that the heart and soul of good advertising is all in the telling," and says that given his years working for Bose, they “Fully expect him to make some noise.”

“In Jimmy, I see someone who not only truly understands the importance of creating a strong brand message, but exactly how to do it.” Daniel Fell, president and CEO of ND&P

Ashworth himself says that “Joining ND&P is an opportunity and a privilege,” and that he joined the agency because he was at a crossroads in his career where he was wondering what was next for him, and he “Wanted to be part of building something meaningful and special.” He believes the answer lies at ND&P, where his first task as executive creative director will be in 'articulating' the burgeoning agency brand, a challenge which he should relish given his personable, storytelling approach to advertising. He quotes iconoclastic advertising innovator Howard Gossage, who said that “People don’t read ads, they read what interests them, and sometimes it is an ad,” adding himself that “Every brand or product has a story to tell,” and that he believes it's his responsibility “To find the most compelling way to communicate it.”

Official Neathawk Dubuque & Packett Website

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from Kidderminster in the UK with a Bose stereo system, which is about half the size of his car.