Leaderboard Branding, Fingerpaint Group’s naming and branding consultancy, has tapped industry veteran Hermann Spicker as managing director. Spicker joins the organization from Brand Institute, where he managed the firm’s Boston and Northeast offices for the last 12 years.

Spicker’s arrival should boost Leaderboard’s presence in the biotech-rich Boston area. Over the course of his career, Spicker has participated in more than 500 naming and branding engagements across the consumer, medical device and pharma spaces. Pharma A-listers with which he has worked in the past include Biogen, Takeda and Moderna,

“Hermann’s commitment to creating exceptional branding and naming solutions for his clients and partners makes him a natural fit with the Leaderboard team,” said Vince Budd, managing partner of Leaderboard Branding, in a statement. “We are looking forward to bringing his expertise and experience to our clients and to continuing to drive innovation within the naming and branding space.”

In the statement, Spicker said he believes Leaderboard can offer an even higher level of support for clients navigating the choppy waters of brand development, whether early in a product or compound’s life or as it nears going to market.

“Starting with the Leaderboard team has been like finding a new home,” Spicker added. “I am excited to be reentering the branding space with an energetic team, dedicated to amazing client experiences, output and growth.”

Fingerpaint acquired Leaderboard in March 2021. At the time, Fingerpaint founder Ed Mitzen said that Leaderboard’s work was nowhere near as easy as the company made it look.

“When creative people think of naming, they immediately think, ‘Oh, that’s what we do.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, but not really,’” Mitzen quipped. “For these guys, it’s much more scientific about handwriting and linguistics analysis, the medication-error issues that they have to face, the trademark work.”

Other recent Fingerpaint agency acquisitions have included Splice Agency, MedThink Communications and Engage. Per the 2022 MM+M Agency 100, Fingerpaint saw revenue shoot up to $135 million in 2021. The company grew its head count to 705 full-timers, up from 403 the year prior.

In September, Leaderboard tapped Dan Hunt to head up the firm’s European operations as managing director, Europe.