Pictured (left to right): Matt Hassell, Mike Takasaki, Glen D’Souza and Laura Kim.

KBS Canada has added to its creative leadership, bringing on Glen D’Souza and Mike Takasaki as executive creative directors.

D’Souza and Takasaki join the shop’s Toronto office from J. Walter Thompson, which they joined a year ago.

The pair previously worked together at Union, Lowe Roche and Bensimon Byrne. Over the past 15 years, they’ve worked on brands including Walmart Canada, Best Buy, Kraft, Mondelez, Unilever, Infiniti and Audi.

KBS adds the creative duo  in part because of their “history of modernizing big brands,”KBS’ CCO Matt Hassell said in a release.

D’Souza and Takasaki will lead creative across KBS’ portfolio alongside fellow ECD Laura Kim in Toronto and Sacha Ouimet in Montreal.

The new hires come as the CEO Nick Dean is set to leave the agency to lead licensed cannabis producer Emblem.

Among KBS’ clients are The Keg, BMO, World Vision, Church and Dwight, McCain Foods Canada, Ace Bakery, Merck and Dairy Farmers of Canada.