Dare Gets Ready to Shake Up the Canadian Advertising Scene

World class agency opens first Canadian office

VANCOUVER, Nov. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Dare, a newly-formed communications company that combines world-class digital expertise with the discipline and depth of service of a traditional ad agency, is expanding into Canada.

London, U.K.-based Dare, which represents the merger of 'digital agency of the decade' Dare Digital and ad agency MCBD, has opened a Vancouver office with a team of more than 75 staff that brings together one of Canada's most celebrated advertising teams with a group of established and highly regarded digital experts.

The agency will be led by John Hall, the former General Manager of Cossette West as Senior Vice President and Managing Partner; Sandy Fleischer, the former General Manager of Fjord Interactive as Senior Vice President and Managing Partner; and the creative team of Bryan Collins and Rob Sweetman who will join Dare as Executive Creative Directors and Partners.

The management group will be directed by Richard Hadden, who has been a driving force behind Cossette's growth in Western Canada for the past two decades, and will serve as the President and Chief Creative Officer of Dare Vancouver.

"Dare is going to be based on a new model for the advertising business. The newly-created marketing communications company combines digital expertise with the brand-building skills of a traditional ad agency", said Fleischer.

"We all know that digital technology has changed the way the world operates", added Hall. "Brand building is no different. We have created an agency that reflects these changes and allows us to better connect our client's customers with their brands."

Taken together Dare North America and Dare UK will launch with an extensive client base that includes leading brands such as SAP, Sony, Manitoba Telecom, BCLC, Tourism British Columbia, EA, BMW and Virgin. In addition to the full service agency in Vancouver, Dare has an existing office in New York which services Sony Ericsson in North America. The New York office will become the subject of investment and expansion as part of Dare's international growth strategy.

Dare's expansion into North America marks the beginning of a global growth plan launched by Vision7 International, a new multinational holding company created from the former Cossette Inc. Dare is part of Esprit de Corps, a group of specialist agencies under the Vision7 umbrella that will provide clients with world-class, best-of-breed communications services.

Colin Schleining, the newly appointed President of Esprit de Corps, North America added, "we are going to be investing in key areas such as innovation, technology and planning. These new investments, combined with a creative team that has won more than 100 international advertising awards in the past 18 months will ensure that Dare becomes one of the leading agencies in North America."

ABOUT DARE

London, U.K.-based Dare is a unique global marketing communications company that combines world-class digital expertise with traditional ad agency depth of service. Dare was formed through the merger of London agencies Dare Digital, named Digital Agency of the Decade, together with MCBD, which earned the IPA Effectiveness Agency of the Year award. Dare has offices in London, New York and Vancouver.

ABOUT ESPRIT DE CORPS

Esprit de Corps is a global network of discipline-specific agencies, including world-class brands Dare, Elvis, Paine PR, Optimum, Band & Brown, Brando, Rocket XL, Identica UK and Jungle Media. In addition to its offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, Esprit de Corps will have operations in all key Canadian markets. Esprit de Corps is part of Vision7 International, a multinational communications holding company.

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