GARTNER has added director Benjamin Lee Gordon to its roster, marking the first time he has been repesented in the U.S. for commercials. Gordon is an up-and-coming talent who has already made his mark in Europe, perhaps most notably with work for the Barcelona River Plate Fan Club and automotive client Seat.
Barcelona River Plate Fan Club’s “We Are Far Away, We Need To Shout Louder” campaign for Draftfcb, Barcelona, earned two Gold Caples Awards, a FIAP Award and was shortlisted at Cannes. The success of this project led to his landing Seat’s epic “Express Yourself” launch for the Ibiza ST model out of Barcelona agency Athletico International–a 50-spot multi-platform campaign spanning nine countries in Europe.
The Seat and River Plate fare was produced by The Cannonball and Sonda Productions, respectively–two production houses which continue to handle Gordon in Spain. He is also repped by Doctor Troy in Europe.
Gordon’s additional directing credits include commercials targeting audiences in Spain for Nike (“Dominoes”), Nokia (“Husband & Wife” and “Couples”), Brugal Rum (“Route 44”), Ford (“Priorities”) and for music app Shazam (“On the Beach” and “In the Park”). His short films include The Floorless, Naturaleza Muerta (Still Life), Lake Chinatown, Erhu, and La Bola Peluda (The Hairy Ball which won an Audience Award at the Malaga Fantastic Film Festival).
Gordon’s upbringing and education laid the foundation for his career as an international spot helmer. He was born in London to North American parents and raised in the countryside near the small town of Mijas, in Andalusia. Upon receiving a BA at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, Gordon returned to southern Spain, where he worked his way up in the camera department in the region’s service industry. His directing style visibly stems from his multi-cultural background, with projects based on cultural, emotional and visual juxtapositions.
Gordon rounds out a GARTNER roster comprised of directors David Cornell, James Gartner, Marcel Langenegger, Mike Bigelow, Raymond Bark, Ted Melfi, and Shona Auerbach.
Hélène Daubert Joins BETC & POP As VP Create
Hélène Daubert, an industry veteran known for her lengthy tenure at production company Division, has joined BETC & POP (Havas group) as VP Create. Her arrival marks a turning point as Daubert will head up an extremely broad production scope—from internal to external, print to postproduction, AI to “beyond advertising” projects. It’s a mission at the crossroads of strategy, execution, and innovation.
In her new capacity, Daubert additionally joins the Executive Committee of BETC and POP France.
With more than 20 years at Division, Daubert has contributed to the development and success of that shop (five consecutive Production Company of the Year honors at D&AD Awards, eight Black Pencils, more than 30 awards at Cannes Lions, two Ciclope Grand Prix, etc.), whether internationally, in talent scouting, or through her excellence in production even beyond advertising films.
Daubert has honed a method that combines rigor, agility, and a passion for craft. Accustomed to working alongside international directors and major brands, she brings with her a genuine culture of curiosity, autonomy and excellence. Her ambition will be to strengthen the bridges between idea, execution, and innovation, so that each project exceeds its initial goal.
POP CEO Xavier Blairon said, “POP must be much more than just a production structure. It is a playground that must become a catalyst for transformation and, above all, a collective driving force serving all the group’s creative entities. Here, we don’t just produce--we promote creativity, we stretch it, we increase it. I am very happy to see Hélène join us. Her vision, her high standards, and her experience will fuel POP’s transformation and enable us to offer even more accurate... Read More