Ghost Note, a creative agency headquartered in Washington, D.C., has sold a minority stake to Godfrey Dadich Partners (GDP), the storytelling, design, and strategy firm that’s pioneering The New Editorial. The partnership was announced today. Godfrey Dadich’s strategic investment in the Black-owned firm will include resources and human capital to support Ghost Note’s growth and success. Ghost Note’s clients include Nike, the Smithsonian Institution, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and MTV. The partnership will foster collaboration between the agencies with the goal of expanding the permissions, audiences, and impact for The New Editorial.
Ghost Note will continue to be led by its co-founders, Steven Jumper (CEO), Brandon Ellis (COO/CFO), and Reggie Snowden (President), with the addition of an advisory board that includes GDP co-founders and CEOs Patrick Godfrey and Scott Dadich, along with GDP partners CFO Janice Trichon and Head of Editorial Robert Capps. Through this strategic partnership, Ghost Note joins the kyu Collective, which brings together best-in-class creative firms, including Godfrey Dadich, to propel the economy and society forward.
“We have long believed the right group of people, coming together at the right moment, can change the world,” Jumper said. “We are so proud of what we’ve built and believe this partnership with Godfrey Dadich will allow us to expand our opportunities, grow our impact, and do our part to introduce a new generation of underrepresented creatives, strategists, and leaders to the field. We have ambitions to be not just a world-class creative shop but also the preeminent agency for creatives of color, and the GDP team sees and supports that roadmap.”
“We have been looking to expand the reach of The New Editorial through new expressions and expertise that complement ours,” Godfrey said. “The strategic partnership with Ghost Note allows us to invest in their growth and success—which they are so poised for—and establishes a relationship to tackle bigger projects and challenges moving forward together.”
Godfrey Dadich, which celebrated its fifth anniversary February 1, has charted consistent double-digit growth and reported record revenue in 2021, fueled largely by its signature editorial and media work. The investment in Ghost Note will further amplify growth for both firms, with additional strategic partnerships expected in the immediate future.
“We feel the authentic energy and dynamic work that is rising at Ghost Note. At a point of inflection for the global creative economy, we need to stand up for our beliefs and behaviors to lead the change we ardently seek in the world,” said Farah Ramzan Golant, kyu President. “As Ghost Note, a leading Black-owned agency, combines forces with Godfrey Dadich Partners and their talented founders, they bring greater breadth to The New Editorial. kyu welcomes this powerful new community with excitement and great expectations for the present and generations of creatives of color ahead.”
The New Editorial combines the best of journalism, strategy, and design to help organizations tell more robust, authentic stories. The New Editorial allows brands to connect directly with their audiences—from employees to customers to policymakers—to create genuine conversations. Leading client partnerships include Nike, which has engaged GDP to produce documentary films, and Microsoft, which turned to GDP to create Microsoft WorkLab, a digital publication and podcast series showcasing Microsoft’s data and expertise. Some of Ghost Note’s leading client work includes engagements with Nike NYC on an award-winning campaign celebrating the city’s Puerto Rican Day Parade and Nuyorican culture, and the branding and launch of national think tank the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport.