Tris Gates-Bonarius Joins FCB as Global ECD, Beiersdorf

FCB’s Chief Client Officer and Worldwide Account Director, Beiersdorf, Erika Darmstaedter announced today the appointment of Tris Gates-Bonarius as global executive creative director, Beiersdorf. She will work as a creative partner to Darmstaedter on all brands for which FCB is responsible (Nivea, Nivea Men, Eucerin and Hansaplast). Gates-Bonarius will join the agency on February 1 and be based in Hamburg.

“Tris is a great creative with an intuitive understanding of and passion for brands. She is highly focused, has a great collaborative spirit and a commitment to creatively solving clients’ business problems,” said Darmstaedter. “Her unique combination of global brand experience, personal care experience, and her time with Facebook, working with clients and agencies on how to best leverage digital platforms, make her a great partner for Beiersdorf’s needs.”

A New York native, Gates-Bonarius’ beauty experience includes working with a range of personal care clients such as L’Oreal, Garnier, Olay and Dove. She was most recently creative director at Facebook’s creative shop in Amsterdam, where she drove business across every vertical on Facebook and Instagram around the world.

“I love global business and this is an incredible opportunity to have an impact on an iconic brand – and take it even further into the digital world. I can’t wait to work with Erika, leading and supporting a world-class international team,” said Gates-Bonarius. 

“After meeting the global leadership, I knew I wanted to be part of the momentum FCB has been building. CEO Carter Murray has endless drive and CCO Susan Credle has a fantastic vision for their clients and the agency.”

Before joining Facebook, Gates-Bonarius worked for more than ten years in Germany at big-name agencies such as McCann Erickson and JWT. Prior to that she was Saatchi & Saatchi’s global executive creative director for Procter & Gamble brands, including Pampers, Iams and Eukanuba, based first in Frankfurt and then in New York. She has also worked in London at AMV BBDO and Leo Burnett, where she was regional creative director for many brands including M&M Mars and Procter & Gamble.

She is not only recognized for growing love and business in tough markets, but also for creating and supporting award-winning work around the globe across every medium, garnering Film, Print, Titanium and Promo Lions at Cannes, Euro Effies, D&AD, Eurobest, Epica, Campaign Magazine, Communication Arts and MCCA, to name a few.

Gates-Bonarius replaces Constantin Kaloff, who informed FCB of his decision to leave during the course of 2015, allowing time to search for the best possible replacement. FCB thanked Kaloff for his dedication and creative guidance over the past three years.