KIM BASKINGER
We have an attention problem, advertising people.
We’ve become very good at interrupting people, overwhelming them, and manufacturing cheap dopamine. I’d rather make the thing people are glad they noticed.
Something that sparks a little joy. Makes us feel seen. Makes us think, laugh, or go “THAT IS ME.” And, ideally, makes us want to send it to our humans with a “YOU NEED TO SEE THIS.”
I’m drawn to ambitious ideas with a clear point of view. Because when the idea is clear, people can stop overthinking and start making. Designers, creatives, and makers can get weird, roll around in the glitter, and see just how far they can take it.
That’s how I lead, too. I bring different disciplines and perspectives together, ask a lot of “WAIT… WHY?”, and create enough clarity for people to do their best thinking and enough space for them to surprise us.
I’m open with ideas. Clear with direction. Soft on people and hard on the work.
I like making the hard stuff feel possible. And I love helping talented people discover they’re capable of more than they thought, then watching them pull it off with grace and excellence.
Because when us advertising people do our best work, it does more than get noticed. It gives us a little more joy, a little more connection, and a little more reason to believe in ourselves.
And if we can have the most fun making it? Sign me up.
Currently
Executive Creative Director
& Creative Consultant
AUG 2026 – NOW
(JAN '20-APR '21, NOV '21-JUL '22, DEC '23-AUG '24)
Partnering with agencies and brands on interim creative leadership, pitches, campaign development, and high-profile assignments spanning brand, social, and integrated work.
Stepping in during agency transitions to lead new-business efforts or stabilize creative output on tight timelines.
Most Recently
CCO / Head of Creative @Crispin
AUG 2025 – AUG 2026
Leading the creative department across brand, social, performance, production, and studio, raising the creative bar and building a more integrated model from brief through delivery, earning the agency its first Adweek Agency of the Year shortlist recognition in 17 years.
Shaping the agency's creative vision across all offices, ensuring Crispin’s integrated mindset continued to deliver outrageous effectiveness on behalf of clients including Target, Samsung, DSW, American Eagle, New Balance, and more.
Introducing the Crispin Ideas Playbook – an internal guide outlining processes, habits, and strategies for fostering creativity and producing great work.
Championing AI-enabled workflows and generative execution, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and creative talent development.
ECD @Crispin
SEPT 2024 – AUG 2025
Leading creative initiatives for Samsung and DSW, ensuring alignment from strategy to execution across channels.
Fostering senior creative partnerships with clients, enhancing collaboration and trust.
Mentoring creative talent, empowering them to elevate their ambitions.
Previously
SVP, ECD @Saatchi
AUG 2025 – AUG 2026
Leading the senior creative partnership with P&G on Crest, setting strategic and creative vision while strengthening agency-client leadership relationships.
Guiding multidisciplinary teams across major assignments, raising the creative standard and creating stronger alignment between strategy, creativity and execution.
ECD @Vayner
JUN 2021 – OCT 2021
Leading and winning Vayner’s first global AOR, Durex, with a social-first campaign integrating media creative and entertainment across channels.
Providing creative leadership across Panera, Comcast, Diageo, Claire’s, Bose and Ford in a fast-moving, social-first environment.
ECD @Havas
MAY 2017 – OCT 2019
Leading creative across Reckitt’s portfolio, including Air Wick, K-Y, Finish, Resolve, Woolite and d-CON, setting direction across a complex multi-brand business.
Partnering with senior clients and multidisciplinary teams to strengthen brand platforms, raise creative ambition and deliver integrated work across channels and markets.
CD @BBDO NY
AUG 2015 – OCT 2017
Creative ideation and art direction on Visa and its NFL sponsorship, alongside Twix, Snickers, Starbucks, and Lowe’s.
Working from concept through execution, bringing together strong strategic thinking, storytelling and a high bar for craft across channels.
Contributing to new business wins including Tropicana and Subway.
ACD @BBDO NY
FEB 2014 – JUL 2015
Developing integrated campaign work for Visa, MLB, and Dubai Tourism.
ACD @Atmosphere Proximity
NOV 2012 – JAN 2014
Developing integrated campaign work for Visa and its NFL sponsorship in partnership with BBDO NY.
Sr. Art Director @Digitas NY
AUG 2009 – NOV 2011
Developing a first-of-its-kind social ecosystem for American Express OPEN that helped launch Small Business Saturday, turning native functions and digital placements into customizable marketing tools for small businesses.
Creating multiple digital and social-first initiatives for AMEX small business and entertainment.
Developing social and digital work for Chili’s Grill & Bar, building experiences across emerging platforms at a time when brands were beginning to rethink how they showed up in culture.
Building a foundation in digital storytelling (we now call this content creation).
Recognition
GRAND PRIX LION x2
Promo & Activation
Direct
GOLD LION x2
Digitally Led Integrated
Interactive
SILVER LION x5
Titanium & Integrated Other
Viral Marketing Interactive/Digital
Best Use of Social
Best Integrated Direct
BRONZE LION x2
Cyber
PR
GRAND CLIO x1
Content + Contact
GOLD CLIO x2
Interactive & Social
Facebook Integration
SILVER CLIO x2
Integrated
Interactive
BRONZE CLIO x3
Social
Sports/Integrated
PR
GOLD PENCIL x1
Brand Transformation
BRONZE PENCIL x1
Events & Installations
EFFIES SILVER x1
Brand experience
EFFIES BRONZE x3
Financial Product & Service
Good Works
Influencers
Learnings
Rhode Island School of Design
BFA Graphic Design
Spéos International Photography School
iPEC Coaching
Certified Professional Coach (CPC)
Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP)
©2026