Compadre Levels Up With Director of Client Partnerships Ryan D’Arcy

Creative marketing agency Compadre welcomes Ryan D’Arcy as director of client partnerships. D’Arcy is a hands-on accounts specialist who has partnered with clients as varied as Hot Wheels and Bloomin’ Brands while holding tenure at RAPP. More recently, he was at Liquid+Arcade, where he collaborated on video game campaigns with AAA studio heavyweights like Capcom, Activision Blizzard, and Square Enix, as well as a variety of respected mobile and indie game studios. His impressive portfolio boasts multiple award-winning campaigns for some of the most beloved and popular titles on the market, including Overwatch, Final Fantasy, Elden Ring, and Marvel’s Avengers.

“Ryan’s ability to build strong, lasting relationships with brands and creators has made him a top choice for many,” says Robert Blatchford, co-president of Compadre. “He is a connector who understands every angle of what it takes to get impactful creative off the ground, all while making room to experiment, take chances, and innovate. We are thrilled to have him lead our Client Partnerships Department, especially as we expand our services to gaming and interactive brands.”

During his previous tenure at Liquid+Arcade, D’Arcy carried on his innovative and boundary-pushing approach to video game advertising. This included numerous campaigns for the legendary Final Fantasy XIV Online series, such as the highly anticipated Endwalker expansion in 2022. The campaign featured a music video of Sia covering “Fly Me to the Moon” as a love letter to fans, with key moments of the game’s eight-year story.

D’Arcy also orchestrated a star-studded campaign for the Shadowbringers expansion launch of Final Fantasy XIV Online, which featured comedic genius Hannibal Buress and Spider-Man's very own Tom Holland. The ad went viral, receiving more than 40 million views across all social media platforms.

Additionally, D’Arcy collaborated with LoFi YouTube channel and music publisher Chillhop to produce a custom video and playlist using imagery and music from the Final Fantasy Exvius Universe.

“This is content that appeals to both niche and broader audiences, as it can be listened to passively while studying, or examined for the easter eggs we included in the 60-minute video,” notes D’Arcy of the activation, which won a Grand Clio for “Best Partnership or Branded Content.”

D’Arcy’s brand activation work has made waves at fan-favorite destinations nationwide, including San Diego Comic-Con, E3, New York Comic-Con, and BlizzCon. At an Overwatch event in 2018, dubbed “The Overwatch Payload Tour,” fans were fully immersed in the game with a 180-degree green screen that made them feel like they were in the game itself. This activation also offered exclusive swag and line-cutting privileges to the most dedicated fans in the community, the Overwatch cosplayers. “The Overwatch Payload Tour” activation won Gold for “Best Buzz Generating Tactic” at the 2019 Promax Games Awards.

Looking forward, D’Arcy is enthusiastic about joining the Compadre team. 

“I’m stoked to be a Compadre!” concludes D’Arcy. “Not only are they collaborating with an impressive portfolio of clients in sports and entertainment, but there’s also a great vibe from the whole team. Everyone is excited and passionate. There are no strict hierarchy or structural barriers in place allowing for the best and most creative solutions for clients – as things should be! With my recent experience in games blurring the lines of entertainment, I’m excited to help all of our Compadres any way I can.”