WD Partners names Jay Highland as executive VP, creative

WD has appointed an industry veteran and leader to its leadership team.

WD Partners has appointed Jay Highland as executive VP, creative, effective Dec. 6. Highland’s experience encompasses all phases of the retail strategy and design process, including concepting, prototyping and scaled implementation.

He spent 17 years at Chute Gerdeman, where he served as chief creative officer from 2014 to January 2021.

Highland has built strong relationships with clients, fostering trust and serving as a bridge between business needs and creative solutions. Some examples of his client relationships include Target, Verizon, Giant, M&M’s, Shinsegae/Emart, Krispy Kreme, Meijer, C&A Brazil, FAO Schwarz, El Pollo Loco and Comcast. 

“Jay will bring formidable leadership to our creative teams, our executive group and our clients,” said Lee Peterson, executive VP, thought leadership and marketing, WD. “He will focus on elevating creative product on all projects, present and future, fostering talent and furthering our culture as a brand.”

“Jay is a team and account leader—collaborating, listening, building, guiding, and doing,” the company continued Peterson. “He has provided direction to the entire spectrum of creative disciplines and encourages innovation and big thinking from every team member.”

Highland is a featured speaker with numerous appearances at industry events, including the National Retail Federation. His early career was spent in Boston where he learned from several influential designers, including Philip Johnson, Clifford Stoltze, and Roger Sametz. He’s a University of Cincinnati grad with a degree in Graphic Design from DAAP.

WD’s integrated services include strategy and insights; design; operations strategy and design; digital; architecture; and engineering.