Prodigious, Publicis Groupe’s content production platform, has appointed Jethro Ferguson as its first ever CEO North America, strongly marking its ambitions for expansion in the region. Ferguson, who’s based in NY, becomes a member of Prodigious’ Worldwide Executive Committee (WWEC) and reports to Jean-François Valent, CEO of Prodigious Worldwide.
Prodigious brings together specialist production expertise in print, video and digital. Ferguson brings nearly 20 years experience in planning, producing and delivering integrated marketing campaigns for B to B and B to C clients. Most recently, he was sr. partner, 360° global engagement leader at Ogilvy Worldwide where he spent the last 16 years leading key global accounts such as UPS, IBM and American Express.
Valent said, “As we are growing our footprint in North America, building on our existing facilities in New York, Chicago and Detroit and extending our capabilities particularly in the video and digital production fields, Jethro’s deep digital expertise and cross-media experience combined with his strong knowledge of client management are a perfect fit to meet our ambitions.
Ferguson in his new role will focus on strengthening Prodigious’ position in the North American market with extended capabilities and locations to better service brands with efficient content production solutions. Supported by Doug Kohler, CEO of Prodigious Midwest, and Tim Newby, recently appointed CEO of Prodigious New York/East, he will grow relationships with existing agency clients such as Publicis Kaplan Thaler, Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, Leo Burnett, Digitas, Razorfish or Rosetta, as well as with direct clients such as Sanofi, Citi,
Kraft, L’Oréal and eBay. He will also play a big part in attracting new clients and talent.
Prodigious has coined the phrase “brand logistics” to describe its offering designed to better help brands meet content production challenges. Brand logistics is built on five pillars: cross-media production, global delivery, smart technology, process and cost optimization and creativity. Prodigious has 1,600 employees in nearly 20 locations across Europe, North America and Latin America, including three skilled offshore platforms in Costa Rica, Colombia and Mauritius.
Review: Director-Writer Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”
They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.
"Dude, I'm you," says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. "Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?"
What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for "My Old Ass" and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.
After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.
"Can we hug?" asks the older Elliott. They do. "This is so weird," says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name "My Old Ass." Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.
Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.
The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where "my life is about to start." She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.
Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair... Read More