When the news broke of Alain Sylvain’s death by suicide in late 2023, there was an outpouring of grief from across the industry for the loss of one of its most celebrated creative minds. The child of Haitian immigrants, Sylvain dedicated most of his personal and working life to New York City, first making a name for himself while working as a strategist at creative agency Mother, followed by a stint as managing director of brand consultancy Redscout.

Sylvain launched his eponymous strategy and design agency in 2010, along with founding partners Joey Camire and Ben Cheney. In the 13 years he spent at the helm as CEO, the 60-person agency built a reputation for innovative ideas and a high-profile client roster including Spotify, the New York Times, PepsiCo and Google. He also spearheaded its expansion to include offices in LA, Virginia and Amsterdam, as well as its acquisition by holding company kyu Collective in 2022.

Widely revered for his leadership abilities, Sylvain was a huge part of CSO Chris Konya’s decision to join the agency in 2017. “Some businesses are more than business, and there are some core beliefs and values that sit at the centre of this organisation that I really valued in him. I saw it in the way that he was building it, the people that were coming here, the way they treated each other, and the way that they believed in each other,” she tells CR.