April, 2026.- In the 2026 advertising landscape, where many agencies struggle to maintain their identity under the pressure of large holding companies, Zulu Alpha Kilo (Z.A.K.) is experiencing what its CCO, Jenny Glover, defines as a “new era of creative growth.” With offices in Toronto, New York, and Vancouver, the agency has solidified its position as an independent titan, attracting major accounts like Hershey Canada. For Glover, this momentum isn’t accidental; it stems from a non-negotiable philosophy: total commitment to the creative work. The recent hire of Cannes Grand Prix-winning duo Jordan Hamer and Spencer Ryan as Executive Creative Directors (ECDs) reinforces a model where leaders don’t just manage—they stay “hands-on.” This artisanal and direct approach is, according to Jenny, the ultimate antidote to the “sameness” flooding today’s market.
In this exclusive interview with Roastbrief, Jenny Glover reveals how Z.A.K.’s independence allows her to prioritize quality over bureaucracy, creating an environment where an entrepreneurial spirit is the DNA shared by the entire team. Glover discusses the delicate balance between bringing in high-caliber external talent and nurturing the next generation of internal leaders, comparing the agency to a band that needs new players to explore unexpected sounds. Discover how the integration of Zulumatic has brought media closer to the creative process and why, in a rapidly changing world, clients are gravitating toward partners who offer stability, creative bravery, and a shared obsession with solving the most complex business challenges through the art of surprise.
- The New ECD Team: You’ve brought in Jordan Hamer and Spencer Ryan as Executive Creative Directors, a duo with a Cannes Grand Prix to their name. What specific creative firepower do they bring to Z.A.K., and how do you see them complementing the existing creative leadership team?
With many new opportunities ahead of us, growing our leadership team to meet the moment is essential. Jordan and Spencer are talented creatives, but we don’t just admire their work. We admire their entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit that they bring to Z.A.K. It’s essential to our DNA as an independent company, and we see them building on the energy already within our team.
2. A New Era of Creative Growth: You described this as “a new era of creative growth” for Z.A.K. What does that era look like? Are we talking about a specific type of work, a shift in creative ambition, or expansion into new categories or geographies?
We’ve always been a creatively ambitious company. As we continue to grow across offices, our ambitions to push our own capabilities only grows. Our mission is to fight sameness, and as the world fills with more sameness, the more we want to challenge ourselves to create work that is unexpected and surprises even us. Part of that creative growth includes bringing in new people that can help us outperform where we are today.
3. The Hands-On ECD Model: You emphasized that Jordan and Spencer will be “a hands-on duo, crafting work that will help set the creative bar even higher.” In an era where senior creatives are often pulled into management and away from the work, why is it important to keep ECDs hands-on? What does that signal to the rest of the creative department?
Part of our ethos is that the creative is everyone’s responsibility. When creative leaders can stay involved in the creative process, rather than be pulled away into other administrative tasks, it creates better and more meaningful work across the board. That kind of hands-on leadership is an investment in not just internal talent growth, but in developing and mentoring our next generation of leaders.
4. Momentum and New Client Wins: Z.A.K. is experiencing “explosive creative growth” and new client wins across North America, including Hershey Canada. How has the agency’s positioning or offering evolved to drive this momentum? What are clients responding to?
Our positioning has stayed consistent. Four years ago, we expanded into New York and Vancouver and launched Zulumatic to bring media closer to the work. As the industry goes through another wave of change, clients are gravitating toward partners who feel steady, who back their people, and who can stay focused on the work. All that is translating into more clients seeking us out to help solve their most important business challenges.
5. Building Out the Next Generation: Alongside senior hires, you’ve promoted internal talent like George Ault, Jacob Gawrysiak, Carlos Veras, and Dylan Thompson, and welcomed back Nick Doerr and Gui Bermejo. How do you balance bringing in outside senior talent with nurturing and promoting from within? What’s your philosophy on creative team development?
It’s always a balance. Rightly so, our clients want stability and consistency with their teams. But part of our job is to regularly introduce fresh talent that can bring new perspectives, energy and ideas. Like any great band, you need a strong core that knows how to play together, but the music gets really interesting when you introduce new players who can push the sound in new directions.
