[NEW YORK – April 16, 2012] Ninety-eight percent of executives send work-related e-mails outside of the typical “9-to-5 work week.” Contrary to the negative perceptions about being “always on,” this new reality is having a positive effect on people’s work and personal lives, according to research released today.

Surveying 543 business decision-makers, gyro, the global ideas shop, and Forbes Insights found that boundaries of time and space that once defined the workplace no longer exist.

Often driven by personal ambition and the desire for efficiency, 63 percent of people check their e-mail at least every one to two hours during non-work hours. More than half (53 percent) step away from a family occasion to deal with a business issue. And only 3 percent said that they never tend to work e-mails or calls while on vacation.

Despite this, respondents said that they feel in control and able to enjoy their personal time. Only 15 percent said that they struggle to separate work from valuable personal/family time; and 84 percent feel empowered and well prepared to make business decisions, due to the constant stream of information.

The findings demonstrate that people no longer feel rushed to make business decisions, instead valuing the freedom and flexibility that this “@Work State of Mind” allows. With emotion intrinsic to all business decisions, people’s private lives are playing a greater role in decisions. The study shows that:

* More than three-quarters (77 percent) cite personal values as very or critically important to their decision-making.

* Fifty-six percent said that personal social networks influence their determinations.

* Seventy-three percent said they make better business decisions because they have more time to think.

* Fifty-nine percent said they make business decisions in the home.

“Our research challenges the perception that people are unable to juggle busy working lives with personal time,” said Christoph Becker, gyro’s CEO and chief creative officer. “Decision-makers are blending work and personal time effectively to make better business decisions, free from the shackles of the ticking clock. This research offers our clients valuable insight on when, where and how they can influence the high-value decisions made by their customers. Nine-to-five thinking is a thing of the past, and this must be reflected in how brands advertise with their customers and clients. Things have moved on, and so should old attitudes to advertising.”

“We all know technology has expanded our connection to work. But only now do we have research into the attitudes and habits of senior business people on how an always-on world impacts business decisions,” said Bruce H. Rogers, chief insights officer for Forbes Media. “Forbes Insights is pleased to partner with gyro on this seminal research and its implications for business marketers.”

The full study can be downloaded at www.gyro.com/atwork.

gyro, the global ideas shop, has appointed Ethan Hays as Search Director.

Hays joins gyro from Uptake Networks, recently acquired by Groupon, where he was Director of Revenue. Prior to Uptake, he was Principal SEO Engineer at leading SEO firm Stone Temple Consulting working with “The Art of SEO” author Eric Enge.

“Not being prominently visible online is the same as being invisible,” said Christoph Becker, ceo+cco, gyro. “Ethan’s expertise will elevate our already strong SEO practice.”

Hays has nearly a decade of experience in search engine marketing, with a focus on search engine optimization, Web analytics and conversion rate optimization.

In both in-house and agency roles, Hays has consulted with clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies such as Procter & Gamble and United Healthcare to a variety of technology start-ups.

Hays helped build Healthline Networks into one of the top-10 U.S. health information networks, per comScore. He began his career in online marketing at QuinStreet, where he was the leading search marketing revenue producer for the company by the end of his second year.

“gyro is a unique opportunity to join an agency just as it is beginning to explode,” said Hays. “The mix of the talent, the vision, the culture and the clients is a strong one. SEO has been identified as an important part of the agency offerings, I'm glad to be joining a talented team and look forward to the great work to come.” Hays reports to gyro Director of Search Dennis Chacon.

gyro, the global ideas shop, has tapped Steffan Postaer as executive creative director for its San Francisco office.

Postaer joins gyro at a time of rapid growth. In addition to helping launch Google brand pages; the San Francisco office handles VMware, Hewlett Packard Printing, Ryder Trucks and other top brands.

“Steffan is further proof that gyro has become a talent magnet for people who are interested in ideas, not bureaucracy,” said Christoph Becker, global CEO and Chief Creative Officer gyro. “He joins us at a time when we are elevating our global ideas shop to the next level. He is a proven creative leader with the drive to help us continue to build and succeed.”

Postaer will join Robert Ray, president, in jointly running the gyro San Francisco office. “gyro is a truly special place and Christoph and Bob are just two of the reasons why. Not only do they passionately seek transformative ideas for their clients, they also deeply believe in fostering a creative culture,” said Postaer. “I look forward to being a partner, collaborator and new business driver for the agency…Gyro wants and deserves to get to the next level and I look forward to helping them get there.”

"gyro San Francisco has been on a dramatic growth trajectory," said Ray. "Steffan's proven creative leadership will be an important contributor to continuing our successful journey."

Postaer was most recently Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Euro RSCG Chicago. During his six years at the helm, the agency quadrupled in size and revenue, becoming a top performer in the network. Clients included Barilla, Beam Spirits, Kraft, Citibank, Sprint and Valspar Paint.

He is best known for his iconic work on Altoids, The Curiously Strong Mints. He is also co-wrote “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile” and Heinz Ketchup’s “Worth the Wait.” Postaer has won virtually every major industry award ranging from Cannes Lions to One Show pencils, Addys, Obbies and the NY Festivals. He was also chosen as one of “40 under 40” by Crain’s Magazine.

Before Euro, he relaunched the business-to-business technology shop TFA as LBWorks at Leo Burnett. As Chief Creative Officer, he oversaw work for Altoids, Handspring, Lexmark and many business-to-business/technology brands such as StorageTek and Heidelberg.

Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett USA.

Postaer has written three books including “The Happy Soul Industry.” He is an avid blogger at Gods of Advertising and an accomplished speaker having appeared at Cannes, AAAA, the University of Chicago, Northwestern School of Journalism, Kraft Marketing Conference and other high-profile engagements. 

[NEW YORK – Feb. 17, 2012] gyro, the global ideas shop, dominated the Chicago ADDY Awards. The American Advertising Federation and Chicago Advertising Federation presented gyro with a grand total of 15 awards at Resolution Digital Studios last night. This included three best-of-show honors, four gold and eight silver awards.

Work for clients including John Deere, USG, Tetra Pak and Kimberly Clark Professional took the top spot in virtually every category gyro entered.

"Last night was a wonderful culmination of great work, great clients and a great team," said Doug Kamp, executive creative director, gyro, Chicago. "gyro proved yet again, that humanly relevant ideas delivered in an unconventional fashion is a winning formula."

Here is the complete list of the winning work:

1. Best of Category Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted”

2. Best of Category Award - Website, B-to-B Flash – Products
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted”

3. Judges Citation Award - Point-of-Purchase, Trade Show Exhibit
John Deere “You’re On”

4. Gold ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted”

5. Gold ADDY Award - Mixed-Media, B-to-B Regional/National
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted”

6. Gold ADDY Award - Website, B-to-B Flash – Products
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted”

7. Gold ADDY Award - Point-of-Purchase, Trade Show Exhibit
John Deere “You’re On”

8. Silver ADDY Award - Brochure, Color
Kimberley-Clark Professional MOD Dispenser Designed for Everyone, “Built for You”

9. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
Tetra Pak “Perfectly Squared” - Tomato

10. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
Tetra Pak “Perfectly Squared” - Mushroom

11. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
Tetra Pak “Perfectly Squared”?

12. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
Tetra Pak “Perfectly Squared” - Corn

13. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
Tetra Pak “Perfectly Squared” - Chicken

14. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted” - Anchor

15. Silver ADDY Award - Consumer/Trade Campaign, Color
USG “The Weight Has Been Lifted” – Web Site

Annually, there are more than 40,000 entries every year in local ADDY competitions. 

[NEW YORK – Feb. 13, 2012] gyro, the global ideas shop, has named Rich Lefkowitz, as Connections Planning Director for North America. In this newly created position, Lefkowitz will help shape gyro’s media efforts in North America and serve as a bridge to outside media partners. Lefkowitz will also work hand-in-hand with gyro’s new business team.

gyro Chief Executive and Chief Creative Officer Christoph Becker said, “Media is front and center in the creative process. Rich has decades of experience working with iconic brands and understands how to maneuver within the ever-changing media channels. He is an important addition to gyro and our mission to deliver humanly relevant ideas.” Lefkowitz reports to Becker.

Prior to joining gyro, Lefkowitz served as a media consultant at DiGo working on new business pitches for Mediacom and GE Capital Corporate Finance. He also participated in the agency selection process for the Miami Dolphins.

During his 13 years as Managing Partner at Cossette Post Communications, he worked with Cache Women’s Wear, Carlsberg Beer, the U.S. Coast Guard, Elios Pizza, Mentos Candy and the IRS on the successful launch of eFile.

Before Cossette, Lefkowitz was Executive Vice President and Associate media Director at TBWA overseeing Absolut Vodka, AOL and Bridgestone/Firestone. He was an integral part of the new business team at a time that the agency experienced exponential growth.

“There are very few times in your career where you get to join an agency that is growing or in gyro’s case exploding,” said Lefkowitz. “gyro has a unique culture and an impressive stable of talent. I am looking forward to adding my skills to this already potent mix.”

gyro has six offices in North America: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Denver and Washington, D.C.
About gyro

We create ideas that ignite business decisions in a numb world. gyro is an Advertising Age Top 50 global agency deploying a 600-employee team of creative professionals in 17 offices in nine countries throughout the world. Globally gyro works with Abbott, Audi, FedEx, HP, John Deere, L'Oreal, USG and Virgin Atlantic. http://www.gyro.com