Rolls leaves Fujifilm for digital agency role

Fujifilm’s top digital marketer Will Rolls has left the camera company to join the independent digital agency Profero.

Rolls, who took over at Fujifilm as chief marketer for digital imaging just as digital cameras were taking off in the UK in 2003, is to head the Apple account at the agency.

It is understood the camera company is still seeking a replacement for Rolls, who joined the company from Dyson. He was responsible for marketing digital cameras and accessories and headed its digital marketing team.

Under Rolls’ stewardship Fujifilm attempted to steal a march on rivals Canon and Kodak. Rolls shifted his marketing budget out of traditional TV and print media and into a series of high-profile internet projects.

The photography giant devoted more than 90 % of its media spend around the World Cup in Germany earlier this year to the internet.

Rolls is the latest in a string of recruits to join Profero, which has already boosted its client services and creative teams by 20% in May this year, following a string of business wins and increased investment.

The agency is also planning to develop its search offering on a global basis and is currently seeking specialist search staff. The division currently has just four members of staff.

This summer, the digital agency was responsible for developing the £1m online advertising campaign for Ask.com, the search engine, its biggest promotion since it rebranded from Ask Jeeves at the start of the year (MW, September 28).

Profero counts Johnson & Johnson, Singapore Airlines, AstraZeneca, Yahoo! Search Marketing and Western Union as its clients. It is also a COI roster agency.

Last month it won a brief from the Department of Health to develop a website for the Smokefree England campaign.