KBS has appointed Keith Butters as its global chief technology officer. Butters, who is best known for having co-founded The Barbarian Group, will be responsible for the integration of KBS’ deep technical capabilities within the agency’s creative product, which spans the gamut from fully integrated campaigns to technology innovation to major platform builds.
 
KBS maintains an in-house team of developers, product experts and engineers, who build platforms and digital experiences for clients including BMW, Windstream, Stanley Black & Decker, and Hershey.
 
“The tech and innovation part of KBS globally is substantial and growing fast. We’re delighted to have a leader of Keith’s talent, substance and humanity to help drive the whole agency forward,” said KBS global CEO Guy Hayward. “We now have a leadership team with enormous creative credentials and a proven ability to build agencies.”
 
Global chief creative officer Patrick Scissons echoed Hayward’s sentiments saying, “As innovation and tech continue to become more and more important across our global network--from our office in London which was awarded an Innovation Lion at Cannes to New York where we have had many creative opportunities for clients like eSight and Answer ALS--the goal is to bring together storytelling and technology in a way that feels fresh and emotive. Keith’s addition to the KBS Global Creative Council will help us to accomplish that.”
 
During his time at The Barbarian Group, Butters worked with clients including Volkswagen, PepsiCo, Burger King, Kashi and Nike. He specializes in applying design thinking to technology, digital media and marketing. He has also played an instrumental role in the creation and growth of the creative coding library Cinder, which was awarded the first ever Cannes Lions Innovation Grand Prix.
 
On joining KBS, Butters said, “I chose KBS because of their amazing leadership team, the existing creative and technical capabilities of the business, their appetite for both traditional and non-traditional work, and their enormous potential energy to do great work across multiple mediums.”