Acadia Hires First Creative Director

Fast-growing digital agency Acadia has hired Brandon Friedman in the new role of creative director to build and support its expanding creative responsibilities with clients. Acadia intentionally sought out a “client-centric” creative leader with experience building new models to bring creativity to performance marketing. Friedman has immediately helped the agency expand business from such brands as European Wax Center and Sky Zone.

“Our clients are asking us to take on more creative work beyond what we do for them in digital media, analytics, and social,” explained Margot Eddy, head of social at Acadia. “Brandon is a proven creative leader, who knows what it's like to be a client. That will help us continue to raise the bar for our creative work and make a bigger impact for our clients, while providing mentorship and guidance to our growing team of creatives.”

Brandon was previously the VP of creative for the content creation department at Focus Brands, delivering countless pieces of disruptive content a month for social, digital and streaming platforms for brands including Moe's Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, Jamba, Carvel, Schlotzsky's and McAlister's. He also served as the CD for Moe’s Southwest Grill, leading all branding inside and outside the restaurant and helped the Tex-Mex QSR chain grow from 350 to 750 restaurants by creating award-winning work that was recognized by ABC News, Adweek and USA Today. 

Brandon will work at Acadia’s Atlanta Headquarters, overseeing a team of creatives across a number of disciplines including bespoke video and photo production, performance creative, campaign creative, graphic design and copywriting. He will also be expanding the creative department’s role beyond social, developing creative work for clients throughout the entire range of digital media channels from performance and retail media to influencer and paid.

“Acadia is building a new model digital agency that values the role of creativity in driving commercial success,” said Brandon. “I am excited to be part of an independent agency where I can collaborate intensely with media teams to propel clients’ businesses.”

Hiring Friedman accelerates Acadia’s move into full-service performance marketing. He was instrumental in adding dimension to assignments from such clients as Sky Zone, Maggiano’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Red Roof Inn, Brown & Company Jewelers, and Bealls.

“We see creative as a key differentiator for how we service clients today. Having a team inhouse, connected to our media teams gives us the ability to test creative and optimise on the spot,” said Jared Belsky, CEO of Acadia. “Our business analytics teams have data at their fingertips that lets us put forward creative that we know will perform. We are bringing greater efficiency and results to our clients. Brandon brings even deeper expertise to fast-changing creative strategies and work, and we are excited to have him on our team.”