• by Larissa Faw , June 18, 2020

Four industry veterans — Kevin Thoem, Roger Baldacci, Chris Jacobs, and John Boone — are teaming up to launch Strange Animal, a new collective agency that proclaims “our model is that we have no model,” says Baldacci.

“We are not one thing. We are everything. We can beat the big agencies because we are virtual and don’t have the overhead they are saddled with. We can beat the army of freelance creatives because we are united, branded and we have elite experience.”

These partners have worked on iconic brands like Apple, Geico, Lexus, UPS, Amex, ESPN and truth at some of the industry’s top-tier creative agencies. Thoem was creative director at The Martin Agency for 7 years, Baldacci served for 12 years as executive creative director at Arnold Worldwide, Jacobs served as executive creative director at Cramer-Krasselt for 10 years and Boone was co-founder and co-creative director at BooneOakley for 12 years.

Thoem is based in Atlanta, Baldacci in Boston, Jacobs Milwaukee, and Boone in Charlotte.

“Every individual in this group has a track record of working at top creative agencies, winning at the major award shows, and most importantly, just being great teammates,” says Jacobs.

Strange Animal was in the works prior to COVID-19. Jacobs was doing client consulting work and realized there was a niche to fill: The opportunity to service brands too small for most agencies to bother with, yet too big for a freelancer to handle. Then, after working with the three other partners in various freelance capacities, the four members started having conversations on building the new agency.

“We are amorphous,” states Baldacci. “We pull in people we need. Designers. UX Designers. Strategists. Client leads. Project managers. New business rain makers. Whomever. For whomever needs it.”

The agency won its first client Shopko Optical in a pitch “right out of the gate,” says Baldacci, adding the team has already produced a TV spot, outdoor and some social media work. Strange Animal recently nabbed its second piece of business as well and is currently in development with this client.