Former CHEP boss Justin Hind opens Reunion agency with Dominique Hind and Stephen Knowles
Veteran creative and former CHEP Network boss Justin Hind has ended months of speculation by finally detailing his next move.
Three months after abruptly exiting the Clemenger Group agency, Hind has unveiled his new venture, REUNION – what he calls a “data-led, audience-first” independent.
He teams up with his old boss Stephen Knowles, who was founder and CEO of Downstream Marketing before selling the company to Adobe in 2012.
Also key to the new business is wife Dominique, with whom Justin went on to co-found the hugely successful WiTH Collective with in 2011. The business was sold to Dentsu at the start of 2020. It’s then Knowles and Hind crossed paths again.
After cashing out from Adobe, Knowles founded data and experience agency Accordant, also snapped up by Dentsu around the same time.
The Hinds and Knowles worked together across digital transformation, creative, strategy and customer experience, and it seems the seed of an idea was born.
When he left CHEP in April, Hind hinted that a new venture was coming.
“The most exciting and fulfilling times across my entire career have been with Steve at Downstream and then partnering with Dom to create something unique at WiTH Collective,” he said today.
“At REUNION we’ve architected the best of both under one roof, and we can’t wait to build something fresh, bold and new, focused on real and genuine partnerships with clients.”
Knowles said the idea has been brewing “for many years”.
“As a new independent, we now have the chance to build what we believe is the right solution for the times: the ability to build brands and digital experiences grounded in data centric thinking and ideas,” he said.
“Both Justin and I are energised by the opportunity ahead and are delighted to be working together again.”
Dominique Hind described today’s launch as “day one”, adding: “And I can’t wait.”
Recruiting is now said to be in “advanced” stages, with big announcements coming soon, Mumbrella understands.
REUNION’s offering is described as one connecting “strategy, creative, tech, customer experience, performance and media into a single unified approach and proposition”.
In a statement, the Hinds and Knowles said: “REUNION is about bringing the best people back together again, while focusing on reuniting thinking, ideas, technology and experiences in one model. The streamlined, efficient model works harder for clients who benefit strategically and operationally, building their business faster and impacting their bottom line, particularly with an emphasis on integrating the power of owned assets with paid media assets.”
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topics
CHEP
dominique hind
indie agency
Justin Hind
REUNION
reunion agency
Stephen Knowles
WiTH Collective
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