RGA welcomes back Ren Rigby as global chief brand officer

Integrated creative agency RGA announced the return of designer Ren Rigby as its global chief brand officer.

 

Rigby, who uses they/them pronouns, first began working for the agency in mid-2014 as both ECD and founder of its consulting practice, Business Transformation, until mid-2015. In early 2016, they returned with the additional position of VP. From early 2019 to 2021, they served as SVP, ECD and global head, design.

 

“R/GA has always been an inspiring place for me,” Rigby told Campaign. The first time I joined was back when mobile and the social web were taking off, and it was incredible to see new ground broken and the creativity that blossomed. Now, I’m interested in the possibilities AI opens up and how generative design can transform creativity once again.”

 

Formerly known as Mike Rigby, the R/GA alumnus rejoins the agency after working as chief design officer of innovation consultancy Proto, which they founded in early 2021. They said that although they will no longer be working with Proto day-to-day, they’ll remain as its founder.

 

“I’ll always be very proud of what we achieved together,” they said. “I’ll just be cheering the incredible Protobots on from the sidelines.”

 

In March of 2025, RGA announced its transition to an independent, privately-held company in partnership with Truelink Capital, a private equity firm. Previously, IPG acquired the agency in 2001 after purchasing its parent company, True North Communications. 

 

Rigby said to Campaign that independence matters because “it creates momentum.”

 

“There’s ambition [and] fresh capital to invest in new talent and technology, and a renewed freedom to shape the future,” they explained. “Combining that with R/GA’s unique design and maker culture, which has always thrived in moments of change, makes this an exciting moment to rejoin.”

 

According to a statement released by the integrated creative agency, R/GA has since been investing in “new talent, product development, partnerships and acquisitions.” Its most recent acquisition, done in mid-July 2025, was of the AI system design studio Addition.