Gatfield, Naked Communications Part Ways

Steve-GatfieldVeteran senior adman Stephen Gatfield has resigned as co-chairman of Naked Communications, the New York-based communications planning agency that he joined a little more than a year ago. 

Gatfield also resigned his post an executive director of Enero Group (formerly Photon Group), the parent company of Naked.

Before joining Naked, Gatfield had been a consultant after serving in several corporate roles at the Interpublic Group as well as a stint as CEO at IPG’s Lowe Worldwide. Earlier, Gatfield was chief operating officer at Publicis Groupe’s Leo Burnett Worldwide.

There was no explanation provided for Gatfield’s departure by either Naked or Enero, a media and marketing services holding company that is based in Australia.

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When Gatfield was named an executive director of the parent company earlier this year, company chairman John Porter stated: “Steve brings to the Board a very useful set of skills for the next phase of Photon’s evolution. He has an international perspective, global marketing services experience, and a strong insight into emerging media technologies and content.”

Upon his departure however, the company issued a terse statement simply stating that Gatfield was leaving. A company rep did not immediately respond to a query seeking details. It was not clear whether Gatfield would be replaced at Naked.

Gatfield’s resignation comes six months after the departure of Paul Woolmington, one of the three founders of Naked’s New York office, which was formed in 2006. It also has offices in Minneapolis and London as well as branches in about a dozen other countries with a total staff count of more than 200.

With Woolmington’s departure, only one of three founders of the New York office remains -- Neal Davies. A third partner, MT Carney, left for a Disney marketing post in 2010. 

 

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