(KANSAS CITY) – Brian Brooker, CEO and chief creative officer of Kansas City advertising agency Barkley, today said he wants to devote his full attention to cultivating Barkley’s idea culture and creative product. In order to fulfill that goal, Brooker will step aside as CEO of Barkley. His new title will be Chief Idea Officer.

Jeff King, president of Barkley, will become the new CEO. Both changes are effective
immediately.Brooker said he is proud of what he has accomplished as CEO. “My primary objectives as CEO were to create an idea culture within Barkley and to raise the level of the creative product. I am proud to say that both have happened,” said Brooker. “Now my energy will be dedicated to helping all our partners develop the best ideas possible for our clients and taking Barkley’s creative thinking and execution to the highest levels possible.”

King praised Brooker’s contribution as CEO. “Brian becoming Chief Idea Officer is the logical next step to ensure Barkley’s creativity is the best it can be,” King said.

King discussed his priorities as the next Barkley CEO. “Barkley must continue to evolve and grow with the demands of more sophisticated clients and prospects. We need to be a company that maintains our culture of ideas. And in these troubled economic times, we need to make sure our ideas help not only our clients’ brands but also their bottom lines,” said King.

King first started with Barkley in 1991. After five years moving through the ranks of account management at Barkley, he had stops at GSD&M and Fletcher Martin. He returned to Barkley in 2000 and was named president in 2006. King is an active member of Young Presidents’ Organization and American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As).

Brooker joined Barkley in 1985 as a copywriter. He left in 1990 to join GSD&M where he worked on such brands as Southwest Airlines, Texas Tourism and Rolling Stone. Brooker returned to Barkley in 2000 as chief creative officer and president. He became CEO in 2002, while retaining the chief creative officer title.

About Barkley:
Barkley is the largest employee-owned agency of its kind. Founded in 1964, the company has 325 partners offering a full range of marketing communications services including advertising, public relations, cause branding, sponsorships and events, relationship marketing, social media,design, media planning and buying, motion graphics, research and interactive marketing. Barkley has offices in Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with additional field offices across the nation.