14 DAY TRIAL // Advertising is said to be the heart of business, and the Cupertino-based company wants the best when it comes to their business. According to Wieden, Rebecca Van Dyck has left the Wieden + Kennedy agency to become the worldwide advertising director at Apple.
Van Dyck has been global account director on the Nike business at Wieden for the last 12 years. She worked exclusively on the Nike brand and for the past four years "she had global oversight for the flagship business", according to AdWeek. Sources report she has already begun work at Apple.
A representative at Wieden talked about Ms. Van Dyck leaving the agency. He said "We are a huge fan of hers here, and she left on great terms. Her job at Apple was a 'can't-pass' opportunity" and confirmed that the company is looking for someone to fill Van Dyck's former position in the firm.
The recruitment of Rebecca Van Dyck as Advertising Director at Apple confirms the company's growing interest towards advertising its products. Apple is already well-known for making a statement with their ad campaigns. "Silhouette" ads for iPod plus iTunes and the current "Get a Mac" campaign signed by Omnicom Group's TBWAChiatDay are recognizable worldwide. Apple last year spent $285 million in US measured media, almost double the $150 million they spent in 2005.
Apple did not yet comment on the matter and neither did Rebecca Van Dyck. It's left to be seen the tasks Van Dyck will assume as Worldwide Advertising Director and whether there are any plans regarding the products announced this year. My guess would be that the company will invest quite a lot in the promotion of the iPhone and perhaps here Van Dyck's "global oversight" comes in. We'll keep you posted on the matter.