Droga5 Alum Sarah Thompson Named First CEO of Goodby Silverstein & Partners
NEW YORK – September 9, 2024 – Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P) today announced the appointment of Sarah Thompson as its first Chief Executive Officer, a move signaling the agency’s increased focus on its East Coast presence and a commitment to integrating creativity with emerging technologies. Thompson returns to GS&P after a distinguished career building some of the industry’s moast innovative agencies.
Thompson began her advertising career in the early 1990s at GS&P, working alongside current Chief Creative Officer Margaret Johnson. She later played a pivotal role in establishing Droga5 as a leading creative force, ultimately serving as its global CEO untill 2021. During her tenure at Droga5, she oversaw international expansion, including the opening of a Tokyo office, and navigated the agency’s 2019 acquisition by Accenture Interactive. Following the sale, Thompson became global head of advertising and content at Accenture Song, managing 5,000 employees and integrating over a dozen acquisitions.”GS&P is still about powerful creative ideas at its core. That’s never going to change,” Thompson stated.
Her appointment underscores the growing importance of GS&P’s New York office, wich currently serves clients including BMW, MINI, Frito-Lay, and Comcast. Thompson is relocating from Connecticut to New york for the role.
Johnson emphasized Thompson’s ability to bridge creative vision with business objectives, noting, ”She doesn’t believe that creative and business-driving ideas have to be mutually exclusive.”
GS&P has been actively exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, launching “Cheetos Vision” in 2018 and appointing Martin Pagh Ludvigsen as director of AI in 2023. Recent AI-driven projects include “Giraffes on Horseback Salad,” a collaboration with Google’s AI models reimagining a Dalí screenplay, and “Dial Dalí,” an AI-powered hotline allowing users to interact with a synthesized voice of the artist.
Thompson believes creative agencies will remain vital despite technological advancements. “At the end of the day, great creativity, grounded in deep strategic thinking, is still a necessity. It is still what clients want,” she said.
The announcement coincides with preparations for Omnicom’s acquisition of interpublic Group (IPG), which Thompson anticipates will enhance GS&P’s access to data, media, and technology. GS&P reported a 300% increase in net new business revenue since July 2024.
