Naked Worldwide has appointed Izzy DeBellis to the newly created combined role of group chief creative and strategy officer.
DeBellis, previously co-chief creative officer at kbs New York, will be leading the new department combining creative and strategy globally.
The new role is the latest evolution in Naked’s transition from world-class strategic shop to full-service creative solutions agency.
“Naked has always attracted brilliant misfits who don’t fit into neat boxes,” said Matt Melhuish, Group CEO, Naked and Enero. “Izzy is an example of creative talent who is also a vital contributor to the strategic process, making him perfect for this role. In our view, the true power of both strategy and creative can only be realized by bringing them together and reforming into one department. Under Izzy’s leadership, strategy and creative will collaborate from the start and be jointly responsible for the outcome. This strategic creativity will deliver beautiful strategy and powerful work.”
To be based in New York, in his new role, DeBellis will be responsible for integrating, evolving, and leading strategic creativity across Naked hub offices in the US, UK and Australia.
Prior to joining Naked, DeBellis was part of a leadership team at kbs, NY, that led the agency to Advertising Age’s ‘A-list Top 10 Standout Shop’ in 2012 and Advertising Age’s ‘Top 10 Agencies To Watch’ in 2013.
While there, he managed a team of over 100 creatives and 50 production and content staff, sat on the Executive Leadership team, and served as the business and strategy lead on key agency accounts such as BMW, Vanguard Mutual Funds, AMEX, Adopt-Us-Kids and Gold by Jay-Z among others.
Prior to kbs, Izzy was a founding partner of Berlin Cameron for over 12 years, growing it from seven partners to over 100 employees with clients including Coca-Cola, General Motors, Nestle Purina and the NBA. Impressive growth and the quality of their work made them ‘Agency of the Year’ in 2004. In his 20-plus years in the industry, DeBellis has delivered award winning creative on brands like BMW, Coca Cola, Reebok, Subaru, VW, Purina, and more—earning him Clios, One Show Pencils, Webby Awards and D&AD’s, among others.
Naked Australia CEO Carl Ratcliff said: “Disrupting orthodoxy is what makes Naked ever relevant for our clients. Izzy’s appointment reflects an unorthodox need blooming in Australia for not just integration, but for original talent to imagine strategy and build outstanding execution, simultaneously. Left and right brain doing what they do best. Together. Not separately.”
