A New Chapter: Reflecting on My Journey and My Transition to Chief Client Officer

The last time I wrote a blog post for Savas Labs, Chris and I shared the unveiling of our Labs initiative in 2020. Before that, I was explaining our now ~6-year holiday tradition. It’s safe to say that writing blog posts hasn’t been my primary focus. But this transition feels significant enough to sit down and reflect—not just on what’s changing for me, but on the journey that’s brought us to this point.

Nearly six and a half years ago, in October 2018, I walked into Savas Labs with a cardboard box full of my desk trinkets. It was a rainy day, and Chris met me outside to help set up my desk. At the time, we were a six-person team—three of us working in a small office in the American Underground in Durham, and three others remote. We were primarily a Drupal development shop, with no formal in-house UX or visual design capabilities. Coming from Viget, a 50+ person agency, the move was both humbling and a little scary. But I was excited by the opportunity to help build something alongside Chris.

Ben's time at Savas as measured by the growth of his son. 

As Savas celebrates its 10-year anniversary, I’m also marking a transition of my own. After six years as Chief Operating Officer, I’m moving into the role of Chief Client Officer, ensuring our clients get the optimal experience and value they can out of Savas. This shift is as much personal as it is professional. I’ve loved my time as COO, but it meant being stretched across nearly every aspect of the company. While that’s been rewarding, it also meant my list of responsibilities—only ever seemed to grow longer.

This new role allows me to focus where I have always been the most passionate, and know I bring the most value:

• Ensuring we’re a great fit for our clients
• Serving as creative problem solvers from the first conversation
• Pushing us into new, innovative service areas
• Continuously refining how we present ourselves and position our work

Since I started at Savas, I’ve always gravitated toward the front lines—vetting opportunities, helping shape solutions, and making sure we’re engaging with the right partners. This transition allows me to double down on that work while stepping back from the operational demands that would often fill my plate (and then some). 

I’m also excited about the future of the company under Chris’s vision and leadership — his continued dedication and most recent few years in San Francisco have us realizing our potential of the last decade as an innovative and exciting place. As we continue to grow, I’m looking forward to where we are going next and I’m excited to help bring in the right kinds of partners and projects that this super talented team is capable of serving.

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on having built and continuing to build something I’m incredibly proud of. Thanks to Chris as my business partner of 6+ years, the Savas team who continues to put their faith in my leadership, and our many clients for whom we wouldn’t be here without, are ultimately, who we serve, and who I can focus my energy towards in this next chapter in the journey!