Lorenzo De Rita, creative director and partner of Amsterdam agency 180, has quit the shop to join KesselsKramer.
De Rita joined 180, whose mainstay is the international Adidas account, when it opened three years ago from Wieden & Kennedy along with founding partners Guy Hayward, Chris Mendola, Alex Melvin and Larry Frey.
"I felt that either I would have to change my personality or change agency," explains De Rita. "It's been a beautiful experience, at 180 I've seen an agency grow with me and I've grown with the agency. I'll always be grateful for that. But, for a start-up, 180 started really big. With an account like Adidas you've got to be up and running very fast."
While at 180, De Rita created campaigns for Adidas including Makes You Better. "I hope I've made good campaigns that can inspire the person who follows me," he told shots. "Adidas has stepped forward in terms of its voice and in terms of its creativity."
His role at KesselsKramer is yet to be defined, but he will take up the position at the agency in October.
Ollie Watson, the art director who joined the agency earlier this year as creative director to partner De Rita, a copywriter, will run the 10-strong creative department until 180 appoints a successor for de Rita.
Chris Mendola, one of the agency's founders, said, "It's a great shame to see Lorenzo go. However, we totally respect his decision to make this "life change" and welcome the change ourselves. We are also hugely grateful for everything he has done for 180."
