Barkley Launches Boulder-Based Start-Up Agency Grenadier

KANSAS CITY, MO and BOULDER, CO--(Marketwire - Aug 21, 2012) - Kansas City-based Barkley, the nation's largest employee-owned advertising agency, today announced the launch of creative agency Grenadier. Based in Boulder, CO, Grenadier is under the strategic leadership of ad industry veterans Jeff Graham, previously at Crispin-Porter Bogusky, and Mark St. Amant, Randy Rogers, Rob Hofferman and Wade Paschall, previously with Arnold, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Grey, and most recently, Sterling-Rice Group.

Founded in 1964, Barkley, which has 250 staffers in their Kansas City headquarters, decided on a Boulder presence to tap into the start-up creative community developing there. Grenadier will focus on ideals-driven entrepreneurial and challenger brands, and operate autonomously with its own clients, processes, and P&L responsibilities.

"We are big believers in the virtue of being an independent, employee-owned agency," said Jeff King, CEO of Barkley. "In considering our next phase of growth, it was clear that this was a great opportunity for us to expand our business and add to our talent pool. The partners at Grenadier will all have skin in the game, so we see this as a natural extension of our employee-owned business model."

Barkley and Grenadier will work closely on existing clients and in pursuing new business opportunities. Grenadier clients will also have access to Barkley's full suite of capabilities including consumer insights, design, production, PR, CRM, interactive and social media, media buying and planning, and campaign analytics.

Barkley has invested in high-level talent in recent years, rounding out their creative department with hires including Chief Idea Officer and creative strategist Don McKinney, and Executive Creative Directors Tim Galles and Paul Behnen. The addition of Grenadier as a resource highlights the value Barkley places on top-notch strategy and creative.

"Many shops are starting up now using venture capital or waiting to be scooped up by a giant holding company," says Jeff Graham, Partner/Account Director at Grenadier. "It's all about the end game, how quickly they can pull their money out. But with Barkley behind us, we're kicking off a long-term partnership rooted in a shared passion for advertising creativity and innovation. We know with Barkley, we're building Grenadier with people who love brands as much as we do; and that's why we're so excited about this combination."

As for the name of the new shop, Grenadier refers to the 17^th century wartime specialists whose purpose was to turn the tide and change the course of battle. They were a small, disruptive force whose impact was significantly more potent than its size. Similarly, Grenadier will play this role within Barkley.

About Barkley
Barkley believes that creativity and innovation can change the world. As the nation's largest employee-owned advertising agency, they are fiercely independent and committed to adding GOOD. Barkley's goal is to help build the biggest future possible for their clients. They provide fully integrated advertising services as well as specialized services through four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Moonshot, Barkley's innovation lab; Crossroads, PR & Cause Marketing; Blacktop Creative, Branding and Design; and Barkley REI, Interactive Marketing. For more information, please visit http://barkleyus.com/

About Grenadier
Grenadier is a newly formed creative agency in Boulder, Colorado, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and challenger brands take a stand in the market place. Founded by 20+ year ad veterans Jeff Graham, Rob Hofferman, Wade Paschall, Randy Rogers and Mark St. Amant, Grenadier was built on the belief that a small, senior team can deliver an outsized impact for clients with disruptive thinking, creativity and a relentless search for brand truth. Grenadier was created in partnership with Kansas City-based independent agency Barkley and will operate as an autonomous unit within Barkley's portfolio. For more information, contact Grenadier at info@GrenadierCO.com