I’m thrilled to lead our agency into a new era
Long Dash is joining forces with global brand consulting and creative agency, 50,000feet, to push the boundaries of what brands can achieve.
Kate Watts is CEO of Long Dash. She formerly founded Faire Design and held the role of president, U.S. at the global agency Huge.
Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by the thrill of building—whether it’s assembling high-performing teams, cultivating spaces where ideas can take root and flourish, or helping clients build their own future. This passion ultimately led me to Long Dash, an agency born of The Atlantic, where we’ve built something truly unique: a creative consultancy that harnesses the power of journalistic rigor and curiosity to help brands unlock their full potential.
But in this rapidly evolving digital landscape, even the most solid structures need to adapt and grow.
That’s why I’m thrilled to announce the next phase in our journey: Long Dash’s acquisition by 50,000feet, a renowned independent brand consulting and creative agency with offices in Chicago, New York, and London. I will be stepping into the role of CEO of our newly combined company, where I’ll have the opportunity to build an even more comprehensive agency—one that merges Long Dash’s journalistic approach to audience development with 50,000feet’s expertise in brand strategy, design, and experience.
Read the full press release here.
This strategic move brings together two premium brands, combining 50,000feet’s two decades of iconic brand-building, serving global leaders like BCG, Knoll, and Mastercard, with Long Dash’s impressive roster of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and NGOs. And with a recent growth investment from Erie Street Growth Partners, 50,000feet is poised for next-level expansion, offering an unparalleled blend of brand transformation capabilities and journalistic storytelling expertise to deliver meaningful, measurable results for our clients.
An ever-evolving landscape
I couldn’t be more excited to lead this next chapter of our journey, because in many ways, my career has mirrored the digital age’s rapid transformation. From the heady days of the dot-com boom in the ‘90s to today’s AI-driven revolution, I’ve witnessed firsthand how technology and macro forces have reshaped media, customer behavior, and audience engagement.
In this new era, our ability to adapt and innovate will define our success.
At each turn, I’ve embraced change, pivoting from digital agencies in New York such as Digitas and Huge to founding my design firm, Faire, and later joining The Atlantic, where I and the Long Dash team honed our unique approach to storytelling and audience growth for brands.
Now, as we stand at the precipice of another seismic shift—with AI and exponential technology poised to revolutionize how we live, work, and interact online—the need for brands to stay ahead of trends has never been more critical. In this new era, our ability to adapt and innovate will define our success.
In this rapidly evolving environment, adaptability isn’t just an asset—it’s a necessity. Our combined team is primed to anticipate trends, embrace new technologies, and continuously innovate. This merger positions us to offer a comprehensive suite of services to serve our clients’ whole brand at every point of their own evolution.
Watch this space for updates on our integration and expanded service offerings. The best is yet to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Suggested reading
Your brand’s best stories are hiding in your data. Here’s how to find them.
Margaret Myers
