Ketchum has named a full time Creative Director to oversee the Atlanta office. Doug Oakes, the new creative man, brings 15 years experience to the southern branch of the firm. Oakes began his career in Mississippi and moved to Atlanta shortly after. At Aydlotte & Cartwright, Oakes worked on the Humana Hospital and Texas Fresh salsa accounts. Working at Bozell, Inc. he was responsible for the Valvoline Motor Oil account. Oakes also worked with Parisian Department Store and FoodWorld and FoodMax grocery stores in Birmingham, Alabama; with computer and high-tec accounts like CompuAdd Computers in Houston, Texas; Fortune 500 companies including Savannah Foods and utility companies like Savannah Electric in Savannah; and with Alamo Car Rental, Camelot Music, and First Union National Bank in Jacksonville, Florida.

Before sojourning to Ketchum, Oakes was Creative Director for LMS/MARC in Orlando, leading the company’s strategic and creative development, as well as Creative Director for Markstone Incorporated. At Markstone he worked with accounts including Motorola Professional Two-Way Radios, Superior Coffee & Foods, Semolina International Pastas, and Ritazza Coffee.

Oakes has a BFA degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and has also studied at Parsons School of Design in the Big Apple and The Portfolio Center. He has also taught at the Portfolio Center, the University of Southern Alabama, and Flagler College.