Libby Lines

Well, it’s official. My former employer, texturemedia has been acquired by Crispin Porter + Bogusky. During my time there, we would often have texturites be utilized by CPB, sometimes exclusively for several weeks at a time…so this acquisition does make sense and is someone inevitable. Texture has amazing drive - one of the few companies that may be able to match CPB in that arena. In addition, website creation and strategy is a relatively new field and texture enabled many processes to formalize the cycles and create many efficiencies. This makes texture on the bleeding edge and a great fit for the highly honored CPB.

But as a former employee, this does seem to raise some major issues. The questions in my mind are two fold:

(1) How will my former clients feel about the acquisition?

Many of the people I have worked with definitely liked working with a local company. Most of the companies that we worked with (IZZE, Pentax, Pearl Izumi, Medtronic) either were local or had a connection to the Denver/Boulder area. Although texture has been on the National playing field for several years, will this acquision exclude them from having that local connection?

(2) How will texture’s culture change?

I don’t think it’s fair to say “will it” instead I say, “how will it” because with any such acquisition, the change is inevitable. We are accustom to having an “open door policy” with Andrew Davison, current CEO of texture. Andrew (yes, we’re on a first name basis) is one of the most driven and motivated business people I have ever met. At the same time, he is a huge supporter of women and was never too busy to talk to someone about their hopes and dreams. The other two principals at texture, Ivan Perez-Armendariz and Dan Fox, are likewise, brilliant, dedicated and compassionate. I believe CPB recognizes this extraordinary leadership and will utilize them to make an amazing company like CPB, even better.

Texturemedia traditions include Thursday night bike rides, quarterly parties (I still think my Downtown Boulder scavenger hunt was one of the best), decorating the office with (umm..) unique decor, and custom placement of stickers on business cards. While the company has gone through ebbs and flows, texture is an extremely special place to work and I think I speak for every current and former employee when I say that texture has a special place in my heart.

Texturemedia, you may be all grown up but I’ll always remember the 18-person design shop that took a chance on me and continually challenged me professionally and personally…I wish you the best of luck.

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