Indie creative agency Arrivals + Departures has appointed Dustin Rideout as its new chief strategy officer in Toronto.

Rideout most recently was chief strategy officer and partner at The Hive, where he played a key role in elevating the agency’s profile through work with clients including Lactalis, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Endy and EQ Bank, a strategy Brand of the Year in 2024.

Alongside the team at The Hive, Rideout also helped build a global marketing campaign for boating brand BRP and highlighted the 1934 Chatham Coloured All-Stars – the first all-Black team to win an Ontario Baseball Association Championship – in a campaign for OLG.

Rideout’s career also includes chief strategy officer roles at McCann, TBWA and Sid Lee, where he led transformation work for global brands and was the strategic architect behind the Toronto Raptors’ “We The North” platform.

Rideout tells strategy A+D has had an incredible trajectory and that he is thrilled to help continue to build upon this momentum.

“Kindness and creativity from active and proudly independent agency ownership is what makes this opportunity so enticing,” Rideout notes.

“As we continue to build on the growth and momentum of the last few years, we knew it was time to double down on our strategic capabilities to serve the ambitions of modern marketers,” Mike Bevacqua, partner and president at Arrivals + Departures, said in a news release. “[He] brings a rare blend of brand acumen, cultural fluency and strategic clarity. His arrival ensures our clients are equipped with the thinking and strategic firepower they need to lead in an evolving world.”

Rideout’s appointment is effective immediately. He will be based in Toronto.