Fortnight Collective Promotes Drake Paul to Creative Director and Hires Account Strategy Veteran Andrea Cruz To Serve As Senior Brand Director

Creative agency Fortnight Collective has promoted Drake Paul to Creative Director. Paul joined the agency early last year as an ACD and quickly established himself as an invaluable and multi-dimensional talent who runs creative duties on key accounts, leads new business pitches and explores new partnership opportunities with clients.

Paul has 10 years of experience as a writer and ACD on the agency side, at a branding shop, at Golin, a leading global PR agency and at WorkInProgress. He has generated big, bold ideas that drove the cultural conversation for brands that include McDonald’s, Domino’s, Humana, and Cisco Webex.

Paul’s diverse set of responsibilities at Fortnight will include running creative efforts for clients such as Bragg, the health food and wellness products brand, and a2, the New Zealand-based all-natural dairy milk brand; serving a key role in new business efforts; identifying untapped creative and business opportunities and contributing to BrandHacks®, Fortnight Collective’s two-week deep dives, in which agency teams brainstorm solutions for clients that navigate rapid cultural and market changes and optimize each project with the right mix of skills and experience. He is also a talented photographer whose work is used by the agency and in client campaigns.

“Drake brings a level of energy and intelligence to the creative capabilities at Fortnight. His multi-faceted background makes him a creative Swiss Army knife,” said Andy Nathan, CEO, Fortnight Collective. “We appreciate his head-first approach to the work and his curious spirit. It is no surprise many clients ask for him by name.”

In addition to Paul’s elevation, Fortnight Collective has hired Andrea Cruz to serve as Senior Brand Director. Cruz has 20 years of account management experience, from scrappy start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, brands and businesses define their voice and personality, tell their stories and drive measurable growth.

Cruz’s responsibilities will include managing the agency’s relationship with Steamboat Springs, the iconic Colorado ski resort destination. She will play an integral part on the account team, overseeing projects, joining new business pitches, driving organic growth and running BrandHacks®.

Cruz joins after four years at Fact&Fiction, Boulder, a small, highly regarded branding agency, where she directed brand strategy for clients like Vail Resorts, Lyft, Chaco and Voodoo Ranger. Previous to that, she spent 14 years at McGarrah Jessee, an independent creative agency in Austin, Texas, where she guided brand strategy for Costa Sunglasses, YETI, Shiner Beer, Howler Brothers and Waterloo Sparkling Water, as well serving on the new business team.

“Andrea brings a level of seniority and a depth of categorical experience that is right in line with the partners we love to work with at Fortnight,” said Devin Reiter, President. “Her knowledge of the outdoor industry is a perfect fit for the Steamboat business.”

Reiter cites Cruz’s people-first approach that builds trust and fuels creativity with agency teammates and client partners alike, as well as her passion for hiking, biking, fishing and snowboarding with her family.

The promotion of Paul and addition of Cruz follow a year of strong momentum at Fortnight Collective, including the recruitment of talent across the new business, strategy, marketing, production, and creative disciplines, as well as industry accolades that include being named to the “Best Places To Work” list by both Advertising Age and Outside Magazine.

Source: Fortnight Collective

  Agency, Andrea Cruz, Appointment, Creative Director, Drake Paul, Fortnight Collective, Promotion, Senior Brand Director