The Company We Keep boosts creative team with new executive creative director and animator

The Company We Keep (The CWK), has expanded its Sydney team with the appointment of Stu Hipwell as executive creative director, and animator, William Gembitsky. 

This announcement comes as The CWK prepares to celebrate its 5th anniversary, and continues its rapid growth, including opening a Singapore office last month. With a YoY employee rise of 73% (Jun 21 to Jun 22), The CWK’s staff count has grown from 22 to 51.

Nigel Ruffell, CEO, The CWK said: “This success and the expansion of our team is a testament to the company’s people-driven approach, which prioritises collaboration and understanding of clients’ challenges to deliver innovative experiences.”

With the addition of Hipwell, an award-winning cartoonist and qualified innovation facilitator, The CWK aims to strengthen its creative side by championing full sensory experiences that connect emotionally with the audience while aligning with business objectives through data-led insights. 

Ruffell said: “Stu’s vast experience, over 30 years, and passion for creative storytelling make him a great asset to our team. His expertise in various creative disciplines, including branding, events, social media, content, packaging, way-finding, and store design, will help us deliver even more exceptional experiences for our clients.”

In addition to Hipwell, William Gembitsky has also joined the team, bringing their artistic flair to the animation department, William’s five years of experience in motion design, including social branding, hype reels, and animated music videos, will help The CWK continue to efficiently deliver content production. 

“We’re excited to have Will on board. Their passion for animation is infectious and we can’t wait to see what they will bring to the table,” Ruffell added. 

The appointment of Hipwell and Gembitsky is part of a wider recruitment process that has seen The CWK expand its production team by adding three new project managers/coordinators along with an Unreal designer to build and export renders that provide accurate representations of the environments created.