Ken Frakes is new digital director at Start

Branding and digital agency Start Creative has announced that interactive-media guru Ken Frakes will join its team as digital director.

Frakes will be responsible for digital strategy, developing relationships with existing clients, and building new business both locally and internationally. He will work with Start's offices in the UK, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

Frakes has a 20-year career in the digital sector. He has won honours including a Cannes Digital Grand Prix for his leadership on UnZip, the UK's first CD-only magazine, and a Precision Marketing Grand Prix for a Virgin Atlantic campaign he masterminded while at Zinc.

He has worked for agencies including twentysixlondon, and Radley Yeldar, which he is leaving to join Start.

Frakes says: "Start is pioneering an integrated brand and digital model and I am very much looking forward to working with them to push the boundaries even further. Start is in the unique position of being able to help brands create awareness, engage their customers and build compelling relationships online. In addition, Start's associate company Judge Gill is at the forefront of Brand Experience Retailing, and I am really excited about furthering the work to date in building digital communities around customer experiences."

Start's managing director, Jen McAleer, says: "Ken's appointment will ensure that Start will remain at the cutting edge of digital innovation and provide a platform for further successes, with both existing clients and new business. We are delighted to have Ken on board and he will be a great asset to the business as we continue our international expansion."