Beginning July 18, Dave Damman, currently interim global executive creative director for Commonwealth IPG overseeing the Chevrolet business, will become chief creative officer and co-president of agency Grupo Gallegos.
And effective immediately, Andrew Delbridge, currently chief strategy and engagement officer for Grupo Gallegos, adds the title of co-president, partnering with Damman to shape and run the agency’s growth and operations, as well as its creative output.
Announcing the two new agency positions was John Gallegos who remains in his role as founder and CEO, continuing to lead and set forth the vision for the agency.
“Grupo Gallegos’ new face of leadership is proof that our vision resonates with the top talent in our industry,” said Gallegos. “The U.S. consumer landscape is changing; we now live in a ‘polycultural’ world, and what’s most important is having the right balance of sensibility and capability to help our clients grow their businesses. Dave and Andrew’s proven track record in both the creative and strategy sides of the business will help us be fearless and focused as our client relationships and assignments continue to evolve.”
A highly awarded creative with a portfolio of breakthrough work for brands like Subaru, Lee Jeans, Timberland, BMW, Holiday Inn, United Airlines and Pepsi, Damman has held several agency leadership roles throughout his 20-year career. Prior to his stint at Commonwealth, Damman served as chief creative officer and managing partner at Carmichael Lynch, at the helm of the agency’s double-digit growth over a five-year period. While at Carmichael Lynch, Damman also launched the successful Carmichael Collective, the agency’s incubator that encourages employees to create for creativity’s sake. He has also held various roles within Fallon and Saatchi&Saatchi.
“The independent, entrepreneurial spirit of Grupo Gallegos, and the holistic vision that John and his team all share for the future of advertising made accepting this position a no-brainer for me,” said Damman. “I am energized to co-lead an agency that focuses on creatively driven work for brands.”
Delbridge, an Australian native, joined Grupo Gallegos in 2012 as chief strategy and engagement Officer, overseeing the planning and engagement departments. Under his leadership, Delbridge realigned Grupo Gallegos’ work to align with client needs. He ramped up the agency’s digital capabilities, which led to the agency recently being named digital and social agency of record for Hass Avocado Board. Before Grupo Gallegos, Delbridge was chief strategy officer at McKinney where he built the agency’s strategic offering from the ground up. He has served in various senior strategy roles around the globe in his more than 20-year career, including at Publicis, Mojo, and BBDO Clemenger.
“This is an exciting era for Grupo Gallegos as we evolve the agency to reflect how the U.S. consumer marketplace looks,” said Delbridge. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with John, and now Dave, to ensure we are constantly solving clients’ problems through brilliant creative with strategic underpinnings.”
Stadium Signs Director Henry Behel For U.S. Commercial Representation
Stadium has added director Henry Behel to its U.S. commercial roster. Behel has directed campaigns for global brands such as Apple, Jeep, GMC, Ford, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and many more.
Behel is an experienced backcountry pilot whose aviation background helps him reinvent the way the camera can move in three dimensions. As an accomplished documentarian, Behel has turned out award-winning films which have unlocked a unique point of view of planes and automobiles. His latest film, 26,000 days, has won multiple film festivals and was recently featured in the Directors Library. Prior to joining Stadium, Behel had most recently been repped in the ad market by Picture North. He is also an alum of SHOOT’s 2021 New Directors Showcase.
“Henry’s mastery of storytelling supplements an exciting dimension of our roster, bringing a fresh perspective that perfectly complements our existing talent and pushes creative boundaries,” said Tracie Norfleet, executive producer at Stadium. “Henry’s experience as a pilot allows him to place the camera in unique, unexpected places, creating perspectives that bring an entirely new dimension to his work. Alongside his technical prowess, he has an exceptional ability to cultivate authentic human performances and cast talent whose presence feels genuine and impactful.”
“Henry’s innovative approach to storytelling sets him apart in this industry,” said Tyler Sgueglia, exec producer and head of production at Stadium. “His passion for creating visually arresting, emotionally impactful work perfectly aligns with Stadium’s mission to produce content that resonates and inspires. We’re excited to welcome him to the roster and look forward to the exceptional projects he will... Read More