SocialChain drafts in THG man to help lead creative dept

SocialChain, the Brave Bison-owned global digital agency which has recently bagged big briefs from Primark and Royal Mail, has appointed a new creative director to help lead the team and drive the expansion of its social-first approach.

The agency, which last year reported a revenue surge of 60% to £11m, has drafted in Ryan Harding (pictured left) from THG Studios, where he held the position of associate creative director.

Harding will effectively be executive creative director Mike Scott’s number two and report into him.

During his time at THG, he was responsible for driving large-scale campaigns for major brands, including taking the lead on the creative activation for Asda’s biggest-ever Christmas campaign and overseeing a comprehensive brand overhaul for a leading sports nutrition brand.

Harding previously held key roles at Footasylum, where he worked with brands like Nike Jordan, and Adidas, as well as being a creative consultant for Nike in the Middle East. During his tenure at Love, he scooped a D&AD Wood Pencil, and a Pentaward in for his work with SK-II.

Scott (pictured, right) said: “We’re so excited to have Ryan join us at SocialChain. With him, he brings a wealth of experience and a creative approach that can really help push us forward. I’m looking forward to seeing how our clients benefit from Ryan and his creative leadership.”

Harding added: “Joining SocialChain represented an exciting opportunity to step into a leading creative role at one of the most recognisable names in the industry.

“The move allows me to bring together the experience I’ve built across previous roles and apply it directly to fast-paced agency life. Pitching, building brands, and delivering culture-driven creative for some of the world’s biggest brands.”

Earlier this year, News UK agreed to sell its influencer marketing agency The Fifth Group to Brave Bison for £7.6m, while also taking a shareholding in the parent company. The deal saw The Fifth become the dedicated influencer division of SocialChain, which is led by chief executive Jacinta Faul.

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