Stephen Larkin

David &goliath’s new cmo explains how the indie shop is becoming braver with its own image.

- Patrick Coffee

What brought you to David&Goliath after nearly four years with 180LA?

I wasn’t really looking, but I was inspired by [founder and chairman] David [Angelo] and what this agency does and attracted to the “brave” philosophy. Lots of agencies are chameleons that say the same thing, but David&Goliath has a real point of view and identity. … They know who they are and who they want to be.

How is D&G different from previous agencies where you’ve worked? 

I’ve worked with some great agencies in the past, and each one is different. But D&G has a great culture that is part of the organization, the recruiting and onboarding processes and the types of brands that we’re attracted to. What I love in terms of simple branding is that it’s really part of the agency’s DNA. They live and breathe it every day. The perfect size for an agency is 200 to 350 people, and when you grow to 500-plus, it becomes hard to maintain a culture.