Dixon takes charge of Wieden+Kennedy Portland as Blessington departs for YouTube

Wieden+Kennedy Portland MD Tom Blessington (MD is still the boss at W+K) is leaving the agency to become a senior marketer at YouTube. He’s being replaced by Karrelle Dixon, latterly in charge of W+K Delhi, Shanghai and Tokyo working out of London (both below).

Blessington is a 27-year veteran at W+K, spending much of his time on Nike and leading the establishment of W+K Amsterdam and New York.

Blessington says: “Saying goodbye to the familiar and hello to the new and unknown is literally what Dan (Wieden) has preached as a creative philosophy since the inception of Wieden+Kennedy. My move is merely putting his wisdom into practice professionally. And as hard as it is to leave a place I love and helped build for almost a quarter of a century, I think every career agency account person wonders what life would be like working on the client side. Well, joining YouTube was far too amazing an opportunity to not find out.”

New MD Dixon says: “I have inherited an incredible business and brand that I am truly humbled to now lead. I am excited to work with my partners (creatives Eric Baldwin and Jason Bagley) to build on the breakthrough work that Wieden+Kennedy has been making with great client partners. As we move into the next chapter of our story, my hope and goal is that we continue to be a diverse and dynamic environment that set the standard for creative excellence in the industry.”

Blessington can hardly be accused of jumping ship after 27 years although he’s now one of a number of senior agency execs moving to the new and richly-rewarded pastures of Silicon Valley. Grey’s top creative Tor Myrhen moved to Apple 18 months ago.