Big Spaceship Elevates Rob Thorsen to President

Michael Lebowitz, Founder and CEO of Brooklyn-based digital agency Big Spaceship, today announced the promotion of Rob Thorsen to President, effective immediately. Rob is the first person to hold this title at the agency.

Previously serving as Managing Director, Thorsen will continue to be accountable for all day-to-day operations of the agency: overseeing business development, mentoring the agency’s talent and managing relationships with client partners. With this new role, his expanded duties will include helping define and lead the future vision for Big Spaceship, which just celebrated its 16th anniversary, and spearheading innovative initiatives across the agency’s different disciplines.

Since joining Big Spaceship in 2013, Thorsen has helped to re-shape and evolve the agency’s offering, bringing new energy and thinking that has driven substantial results for its clients: “Rob is an integral part of our executive team, consistently focused on pushing the business forward while tenaciously maintaining our culture – this promotion is an acknowledgement of his significant contribution with a title appropriate to it,” said Lebowitz. “Equal parts agency leader, relationship builder, strategic thinker and creative contributor, Rob is a great partner to our clients and our crew. He will be key to Big Spaceship's ongoing success."

An ad industry veteran, Rob started out as one of the original Bartle Bogle Hegarty US employees back in 1999. Over the course of his five-year tenure there, Rob lead the award-winning introduction of Unilever’s Axe brand and was named one of Ad Age’s top “30 under 30.” From there, he joined Mother NY as its first Strategist and eventually grew into the role of Global Business Director across the agency’s AB/InBev business. From there, Rob spent the next five years at BBDO NY where he advanced to EVP, Global Business Director and managed a portfolio of business that included Best Buy, Hyatt, Starbucks and the American Red Cross. He was also instrumental in leading several successful global new business pitches.

Rob has been able to harness all his experience and bring it to bear right back where he started – at a collaborative, creative shop looking to chart their path forward as a modern agency partner: “I’m excited about transitioning to President and see it as a nice sign of encouragement to continue down the same path we’re on and have been finding success,” commented Rob Thorsen. “Big Spaceship has been a pioneer in the digital space for the past 16 years and the agency’s core values are an engine for that success. My primary responsibility will continue to be finding new forward-looking ways to bring those values to bear to unlock the agency’s potential and growth.”