London, UK-based Dare, an agency formed by a merger between Dare Digital and ad agency MCBD, is coming to Canada thanks to the recent restructuring of Cossette.
Dare has opened up shop in Vancouver with a team of 75-plus and is being led by: SVP and managing partner John Hall, former GM of Cossette West; SVP and managing partner Sandy Fleischer, former GM of Fjord Interactive; and Bryan Collins and Rob Sweetman, who have joined as executive CDs and partners in the agency. Directing the management group is president and CCO Richard Hadden, who had previously been responsible for driving Cossette’s growth in Western Canada.
‘We all know that digital technology has changed the way the world operates,’ said Hall in a release. ‘Brand building is no different. We have created an agency that reflects these changes and allows us to better connect our client’s customers with their brands.’
Dare North America and Dare UK are launching with a combined client roster that includes Sony, Manitoba Telecom, SAP, BCLC, Tourism British Columbia, EA, BMW and Virgin. The agency also has an office in New York City that handles Sony Ericsson’s North American business. It will become party to expansion and investment, keeping in line with Dare’s international growth strategy.
The introduction of Dare into the North American market represents the start of a global growth plan initiated by Vision 7 International, the new holding company created from major restructuring at Cossette, which retained its name, but is now one of two entities under the holding company. It’s being led by president Brett Marchand and will provide integrated marketing services across Canada. The second entity is Esprit de Corps Communications, which, in North America, is being led by Colin Schleining. Esprit is Vision 7’s international arm and manages various service-specific agencies in Canada, the US and UK, including Dare, as well as Elvis, a CRM agency in the UK; Paine PR in the US; Optimum in Canada; Band and Brown, a PR and social media agency in the UK; Rocket XL; and Jungle Media.
Vision 7 International is based in Canada and is headed by chairman and CEO Claude Lessard. Other board members include Pierre Delagrave, president of media; Martin Faucher, VP and CFO; Marcel Barthe, VP corporate strategy; Kimberley Okell, VP and legal affairs; and Marchand, who is vice chair.

With files from Katie Bailey