FutureBrand seeks creative director

Futurebrand is looking to appoint a high-profile creative director to focus on packaging and new product development.

The move follows the departure of former creative director of graphics and branding Bill Wallsgrove in December to join FutureBrand client Big Idea Brand Management as creative director. He had completed his earn-out period with the Interpublic Group-owned global consultancy.

FutureBrand creative director of structure Robert Monaghan has been promoted to group creative director since Wallsgrove left and Samantha Dumont to creative director of graphics. But, says FutureBrand Europe chief executive Charles Trevail, a post is being created to replace Wallsgrove.

‘We are still looking for more talent,’ says Trevail. ‘We could do with someone with a great reputation and will make an appointment in the first half of the year.’

Wallsgrove admits he was ‘treading water for a couple of years’ at FutureBrand. His decision to quit ‘is about lifestyle choice’, he adds. ‘You either like big companies or you don’t.’

Wallsgrove still has a small shareholding in FutureBrand, says Trevail. ‘[He] is still a shareholder in what was Coleman Planet. But it is a tiny percentage,’ he says. FutureBrand has a stake in the former Coleman Planet in excess of 80 per cent, he adds.

London packaging group Planet Design, which Wallsgrove joined ten years ago, merged with IPG-owned Coleman Group Worldwide in 1997 as Coleman Planet. Coleman merged with IPG stablemate FutureBrand in 2000, renaming Coleman Planet as FutureBrand (Consumer) in January 2001.