GRIP OPENS DOORS IN TORONTO
By Adnews Staff
A new agency called Grip Limited opened in Toronto yesterday. The firm will focus on advertising creative. Grip's founding client is Labatt Breweries of Canada. Later this month the agency will begin work on advertising for the Labatt Blue and Blue Light, John Labatt Classic, Kokanee and Carlsberg brands. Labatt ended its eight-year relationship with Toronto's Ammirati Puris in November. Labatt spokespeople said at the time that the company wanted a new client/agency model. The business staff at Grip includes partner Bob Shanks, former president of Roche Macaulay & Partners and partner Mike Robitaille, former Labatt director of marketing. The creative staff includes David Crichton, co-founder of The Crichton Kim-Kirkland Company; Graham Lee, former creative director of Odiorne Wilde Narraway & Partners in San Francisco; Dave Chiavegato and Rich Pryce-Jones, former co-creative directors at Palmer Jarvis DDB in Toronto; Randy Stein, former creative director at PJ DDB in Vancouver; and Scott Dube, former senior vice-president and creative director at BBDO Toronto, all of whom are partners in the firm. A client advisory board, to be chaired by Peter Elwood, former Lever Brothers & Lipton president, will also be established. Each client will have a seat on the board, access to the agency's finances and involvement in its ongoing strategic direction, according to the company.