We Are Social Hires Simon Richings as Executive Creative Director

We Are Social, the global socially-led creative agency, has hired Simon Richings as its new UK executive creative director. 

Simon is heading to We Are Social after more than eight years as executive creative director for AnalogFolk, and has a wealth of experience in the industry, having previously held positions at DDB and Tribal London. 

Simon, who boasts several high profile industry awards including a Gold Cannes Lion, has developed innovative ideas for the likes of Nike, Sainsbury’s, Costa Coffee, PG Tips, BT, Marmite and Johnnie Walker.

As executive creative director, Simon will head up the We Are Social UK’s creative, design and editorial teams. 

Jim Coleman, UK CEO, said: “With such a stellar creative background, we’re thrilled to have Simon join our team. His background across both design, conceptual thinking and writing means he is the ideal person to lead our 70 strong creative team and continue to produce brilliant socially-led creative work for our clients here in the UK.” 

Simon Richings, executive creative director, said: “I’ve admired We Are Social from afar for years, for both their work and the thinking coming from their enormously talented people. And now, I get to actually hang out with those people and help them create wonderful things with their amazing clients, bringing more incredible socially-led visions to life, whilst nurturing the talent of the agency’s blossoming creative department. I’m both excited and delighted.”

The position was previously held by Gareth Leeding, who was at We Are Social for over nine years and moved to Australia with his family at the end of 2021.