VBAT, the Amsterdam-based award-winning brand development agency, has further strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of John Comitis to the new role of Executive Creative Director (ECD). Comitis joins CEO Robert de Groot, and Founding Chairman Eugene Bay in expanding VBAT's international capacity.
Comitis heads-up the 25-strong creative team in this new role, with immediate effect. He is responsible for all creative output.
"John has the ability to create great work himself and is a natural in stimulating others to do the same," said Eugene Bay, Chairman and Founder of VBAT. "His indestructible passion to create iconic brands is infectious and I have every confidence that he will lead the creative team with both inspiration and much positive energy. Importantly, John knows that at the end of the day we're here to bring clients' brand strategies to life. In this he embodies the core of VBAT's DNA."
"We work for both local and international clients who are increasingly focused on global business," continued Robert de Groot, CEO. "John's experience in both markets makes him an ideal choice to join the management team and lead our creatives in creating tangible, across-the-board solutions for our clients. His appointment supports VBAT's ambition of growth."
Since graduating from the University of Johannesburg, South African-born Comitis has built a successful 16-year career working for clients such as ABN AMRO, Brand Bier, Cristal Cerveza (Chile), Heineken, Coca-Cola, TNT and Amstel, with the latter leading to a Gold Design Lion at Cannes in 2008. Prior to VBAT, Comitis was a senior designer at both KSDP Amsterdam and Johannesburg.
"VBAT's creative team is full of dynamic thinkers with raw energy and I'm proud to work with them as ECD," commented John Comitis. "As part of VBAT's frontline, my focus is on boosting our creative edge - by both drawing on the agency's 25 years of experience, and also daring to experiment more. VBAT is energised and ready to slingshot creativity into this new decade."