Apple hires away Nike account agency exec

Apple has hired away a chief ad agency exec working on the Nike account to help bolster its worldwide marketing efforts. Rebecca Van Dyck, a longtime global account director on the Nike business at Wieden + Kennedy, has left the multinational agency to become the the worldwide advertising director at Apple, Wieden said today. Adweek reports that In her 12 years at the independent Wieden agency, Van Dyck worked exclusively on the Nike brand, and that for the last four years, she had global oversight for the flagship business. Her departure comes on the heels of newly landed account for Coca-Cola. Sources tell the publication that she has already started at Apple, although it wasn't clear when Van Dyck left for Apple.

Her departure comes amidst some restructuring at the company's Portland, Ore., office, which brought in an executive from Apple's high-profile agency TBWA/Chiat/Day. Ironically, TBWACD is responsible for much Apple's high profile television and print advertising, including its successful iPod+iTunes Silhouettes and its 'Get a Mac' campaign.

Wieden representatives said the agency was conducting a search for replacement, but didn't provide additional details. Unnamed company representatives told Adweek that the Apple's position was quite enticing: "We are a huge fan of hers here, and she left on great terms. Her job at Apple was a 'can't-pass' opportunity."

According to the report, Apple last year spent $285 million in U.S. measured media, nearly double the $150 million it spent in 2005, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

Filed under: Apple