TBWAChiatDay LA has promoted Courtney Nelson to president. She will collaborate closely with TBWAChiatDay U.S. CEO Erin Riley and work in tandem with leadership in New York and Nashville.
This elevation coincides with a period of remarkable momentum for the L.A. agency with multiple new business wins including Sephora, Jack in the Box and a soon-to-be-announced fashion brand. In addition to adding consumer facing brands, the agency also welcomed two new complex business brands into its portfolio by leaning into its strong B2B credentials.
In her new role as president, Nelson will oversee the agency’s overall performance, growth and strategic direction while ensuring the shop continues to push creative boundaries. She will act as key liaison for client partners and continue to drive the expansion of key products and offerings such as Design x Disruption (DXD), PLEX, and more.
“As a leader, one of the greatest joys is seeing good, smart people thrive, and that is certainly the case with Courtney,” said Riley. “Her journey has equipped her with a deep respect for illuminating strategy and the highest standard for creative excellence. It is that keen perspective that has made her an important contributor to our current success and the perfect leader to continually up our game. I am so grateful that the two of us have an opportunity to grow into new roles, but stay working together at an agency we love.”
Nelson joined TBWAChiatDay in 2021 as managing director, bringing with her two decades of experience working for agencies such as Wieden+Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, and Deutsch. She has helped build many brands including Nike, Instagram, Levi’s, P&G and General Motors. Originally trained on Disruption while at TBWAChiatDay from 2005-2008, she embodies a career-long commitment to the potent combination of strategy and creativity.
“I have always been deeply passionate about creativity and the idea of Disruption, so in many ways, coming back to Chiat felt like coming home,” said Nelson. “To be given the honor to lead this agency alongside the many talented people here fills me with immense pride. I’m excited to take our agency and creativity to the next level.”
The promotion of Nelson, in conjunction with Riley’s appointment as U.S. CEO, underscores TBWA’s collective commitment to nurturing and recognizing the most senior women within its ranks.
Tilda Swinton Explores Assisted Suicide In Pedro Almodóvar’s 1st English-Language Feature
Although "The Room Next Door" is Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language feature, Tilda Swinton notes that he's never written in a language that anyone else truly speaks.
"He writes in Pedro language, and here he is making another film in another version of Pedro language, which just happens to sound a little bit like English," Swinton said.
Set in New York, Swinton stars as Martha, a terminally ill woman who chooses to end her life on her own terms. After reconnecting with her friend Ingrid, played by Julianne Moore, Martha persuades her to stay and keep her company before she goes through with her decision.
Beyond the film's narrative, Swinton said she believes individuals should have a say in their own living and dying. She acknowledges that she has personally witnessed a friend's compassionate departure.
"In my own life I had the great good fortune to be asked by someone in Martha's position to be his Ingrid (Julianne Moore)," Swinton said.
She said that experience shaped her attitude about life and death: "Not only my capacity to be witness to other people in that situation, but my own living and my own dying."
Swinton spoke about "The Room Next Door," Almodóvar and he idea of letting people die on their own terms. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Tackling that role, what was the challenge to get into the character?
SWINTON: I felt really blessed by the opportunity. So many of us have been in the situation Julianne Moore's character finds herself in, being asked to be the witness of someone who is dying. Whether that wanting to orchestrate their own dismount or not, to be in that position to be a witness is something that I've been... Read More