• Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2015
Nice Shoes promotes Phil Choe to colorist
Phil Choe
NEW YORK -- 

Nice Shoes has promoted Phil Choe to full-time colorist after nine years with the company as an assistant and junior colorist.

Nice Shoes CEO Dominic Pandolfino said of Choe, “He’s extremely talented and creative, and he complements the rest of our team so well. I’m proud to have him as a part of our roster and look forward to seeing how he continues to grow as an artist.”

Choe took a non-traditional route to a career in postproduction, attending Stony Brook University as a pre-med student, before changing his focus and graduating in 2004 with a degree in fine arts. His first job out of school was with Nice Shoes, working and learning in the studio’s in-house training program.

“I had great artists and mentors like Chris Ryan and Lez Rudge. Our whole team has always been very generous, answering questions and sharing knowledge,” said Choe. “I continue to learn from those guys every day, and I try to pass on that knowledge to our younger artists and assistants as well.”

Taking a sabbatical from Nice Shoes in 2010, Choe moved to South Korea, where he worked with Creative Image Company and Seoul Vision, gaining valuable experience collaborating with international advertising clients. Choe added, “I’m a native New Yorker and a Korean American. I wanted to explore my roots while broadening my horizons as a colorist.”

Choe’s return to New York was well-timed as it coincided with an opening on the color team of Nice Shoes. “It couldn’t have worked out better,” said head of color Lenny Mastrandrea. “It was like Phil never left, except he came back with a wealth of useful knowledge and skills.”

Choe has put together an impressive reel in a short amount of time, collaborating on multiple documentary projects for TIME and VICE, music videos for Kat DeLuna, Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé, and for clients such as Beats, Champion, and Facebook. Choe has especially enjoyed the experience of working on longer form projects that have allowed him to explore and create beyond the boundaries of traditional 30-second advertising projects.

  • Monday, Aug. 31, 2015
Hook names Tony Tung executive creative director
Tony Tung
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- 

Digital creative agency Hook, Ann Arbor and Los Angeles, has hired Tony Tung as executive creative director. Tung, who’s based in L.A., will work on all of the shop’s clients including YouTube and Google Search.

As a creative and a producer, Tung has created integrated brand experiences, games and interactive television content for nearly every type of screen. He spent the first half of his career in entertainment before making the segue to advertising.

Tung began his career as a visual designer for Disney and went on to serve various creative roles at agencies and media companies. From 2009 to 2014, he served as VP/director of interactive production at advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Most recently, he co-founded Cloneless Media, a VFX and postproduction company--which he still runs--with a patented platform for creating real-time dynamic video.

Tung said of his joining Hook, “This is a chance to apply my agency background, my creative experience from the entertainment sector, and the technology learnings from co-founding a startup to help solve problems that require an approach blending creativity and technology. In the last few years, Hook has quietly moved from being solely a production shop to now becoming a trusted creative partner for some of the world’s most sophisticated brands and top-tier agencies.”

  • Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015
Marcello Serpa, Jose Luiz Madeira to leave Almap BBDO
Jose Luiz Madeira (l) and Marcello Serpa
Luiz Sanches, Cintia Gonçalves and Rodrigo Andrade to take over leadership of shop
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- 

Marcello Serpa and Jose Luiz Madeira announced today that they will leave Almap BBDO, after leading the agency for 22 years--the longest running leadership team in Brazil.

Two years ago, they handed over day-to-day management of the agency to Luiz Sanches, Chief Creative Officer, Rodrigo Andrade, Chief Operating Officer and Cintia Gonçalves, Chief Strategy Officer.  Today, this team takes full leadership responsibility for the agency and the group.

Serpa and Madeira joined Almap BBDO in 1993 as partners.  Since then, the agency has produced famous work for a broad range of clients.  This work has made Almap BBDO what it is today--not just the recognized creative agency leader in Brazil but one of the most admired and respected agencies in the world.  The agency has been named Agency of the Year at Cannes three times, and topped The Gunn Report as the most awarded creative agency in the world three times.  It has won Agency of the Year at the Clios two times, and FIAP seven times.  Marcello Serpa is a recipient of a Clio Lifetime Achievement Award--the first non-Anglo-Saxon to be recognized as such--and Jose Luiz Madeira is an inductee of the Academia Brasileira de Marketing Hall of Fame.

“It is simply impossible to overstate the impact and contribution that Marcello and Jose Luiz have had on the advertising business in Brazil, across the world, and for BBDO Worldwide,” said Andrew Robertson, president and CEO, BBDO Worldwide.  “Their work has been legendary and will leave its mark on clients’ businesses and generations of advertising people around the world.”  Robertson added, “Their consistent success is a function both of their leadership brilliance and their ability to attract and retain the very best people in the business--and that includes Luiz, Cintia and Rodrigo, who will succeed them.”

Serpa commented, “When José Luiz and I joined Almap BBDO in 1993, we wanted two things:  to create the best work in the market and keep having fun while doing that.  The fact that our agency has achieved the level of success that it has would seem to indicate that our strategy has paid off.  In the process, we attracted the best group of people an agency could dream of.  Now we get to watch the team we have in place continue to set the same exacting creative standards.

Added Madeira, “Over the years, we’ve learned that it really pays off to think before doing.  You can see that in the quality of our work.  We’ve done a lot of thinking before doing this.  We know that this is a great time to pass the baton to our chosen successors.”

Over the last two and a half years, the new management team of Sanches, Goncalves and Andrade have maintained Almap BBDO’s creative reputation, winning international, regional and local competitions such as the One Show, D&AD, New York Festivals, London International Advertising Festival, FIAP, the Wave Festival and others, as well as 47 Lions at Cannes and keeping Almap BBDO among the top 10 agencies in the world in the Gunn Report and Directory Big Won.  They are also the most awarded agency at Effie’s Brazil.

“I am excited to work with this next generation of leadership as they carve out their own legacy at Almap BBDO,” said Chris Thomas, the recently named CEO of BBDO, the Americas.

  • Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015
Chandelier hires Zan Goodman as design director
Zan Goodman
NEW YORK -- 

Brand agency Chandelier has added Zan Goodman as design director of the New York office. Goodman will report to Richard Christiansen, founder and co-creative director.

Over the past several years, Goodman has worked with the Chandelier team in a freelance capacity, providing design support and working across numerous clients, including Old Navy, Target, Chandon, Lane Crawford, Roxy and Bergdorf Goodman. Previously, she also served as a designer for Condé Nast, working on its Teen Vogue publication. Throughout her career, she has worked on a range of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands including adidas, Anthropologie, Bottega Veneta, Coach, Cole Haan, The Limited, Jean Paul Gaultier, Moda Operandi, Orient Express, and Williams-Sonoma. She has designed books for Rizzoli and Penguin, including the New York Times best seller The Teen Vogue Handbook, as well as a number of award-winning album covers and branding projects.

Chandelier currently serves as the lead creative agency for Old Navy and in many other advisory and creative roles across retail, beauty, food and beverage, travel and hospitality.

  • Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015
M&C Saatchi LA adds Mandy Graham as director of strategic planning
Mandy Graham
Maria Smith promoted to creative director
LOS ANGELES -- 

M&C Saatchi LA has hired Mandy Graham as director of strategic planning and promoted Maria Smith from associate creative director to creative director.

As the planning director for 180 Amsterdam, Graham managed the global brand identity campaign for DHL Express and led projects on Opel, SIRE, ASICS, as well as other new business assignments. Graham was also VP, planning director for Leo Burnett, where she led the Special K strategy team in the U.S. before taking on Special K and All Bran globally. Other successful agency tenures include Element 79, Cramer-Krassalt, and Campbell Ewald working with a variety of noted brands.

Creative director Smith has been a copywriter and associate creative director for 10 years, eight with M&C Saatchi LA. She has contributed to campaigns for the San Diego Zoo, Epson, The Getty Center, Three Olives Vodka, and more. Prior to M&C Saatchi, Smith was a copywriter at TBWA\Chiat\Day where she worked on Nissan, Infiniti, Sony and Energizer.

  • Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015
Jo Shoesmith named executive creative director at Campbell Ewald
Jo Shoesmith
LOS ANGELES -- 

Marketing communications agency Campbell Ewald has appointed Jo Shoesmith to serve as executive creative director. Based in Los Angeles, Shoesmith will lead creative efforts for clients including Covered California, Energy Upgrade California and Kaiser Permanente and will report directly to Mark Simon, chief creative officer. Campbell Ewald maintains offices in NY, Detroit, L.A. and San Antonio.

Prior to joining Campbell Ewald, Shoesmith was a sr. VP, creative director at Leo Burnett Chicago and also held positions at Leo Burnett Melbourne and Clemenger BBDO Melbourne. With extensive experience in CPG, automotive, financial, insurance, entertainment and retail categories, she has worked with brands such as General Motors, Mazda, Allstate, Esurance, Hallmark, Heinz, Nintendo and Black & Decker. Shoesmith’s work has earned assorted awards over the years, including multiple Cannes Lions, Clios, Webbies and ADDYs.

  • Monday, Aug. 24, 2015
The Barbarian Group expands sr. leadership team
Edu Pou has been promoted from executive creative director to chief creative officer at The Barbarian Group.
NEW YORK -- 

Tech-centric creative company The Barbarian Group is strengthening its sr. executive leadership team with several new hires and promotions following new business wins (Etihad Airways and KIND Snacks) and organic growth from existing clients. In a new role for the company, Ian Daly has joined as chief strategy officer. Darren Himebrook has been hired as head of operations. Edu Pou has been promoted to chief creative officer from executive creative director. And Robert Christ, previously tech director, has become chief technology officer.

“As we continue to double down on using technology to create disruptive digital experiences for brands, we need the right kind of talent to do this effectively and efficiently,” said Sophie Kelly, CEO of The Barbarian Group.

In his role, Daly will partner in charting a strategic course for the company and lend new inspiration and focus to the team to create ideas, rooted in technology, that drive culture. He joins The Barbarian Group from TBWA\​Media Arts Lab in Los Angeles, where he was group strategy director, overseeing a team of more than 20 planners. During his time there he has helped TBWA\MAL expand in seven different emerging markets and was integral in building TBWA\MAL’s relationship with Apple in its post-Steve Jobs era. Daly also re-built its analytics operation, integrating it into planning, and most recently led the charge for Apple’s recent launch of Apple Music. Prior to TBWA\MAL, he was the head of planning at Anomaly in New York, worked at Grey, and was a senior writer and editor for Details and Wired.

Himebrook will oversee agency operations, production and The Barbarian Group’s content studio, Lot112. He got his start in advertising working on the Burger King account at CP+B. He also worked on projects for Wieden + Kennedy and JWT, and he directed a video for Nelson Mandela. He most recently built out digital production capabilities at The Martin Agency, tripling profitability while growing the team and increasing the quality of the work for clients such as GEICO, Microsoft and Benjamin Moore. This resulted in the recent Grand Prix and Silver Lion wins at Cannes for both GEICO and Benjamin Moore.

Pou will oversee all creative output for The Barbarian Group’s client roster. He joined The Barbarian Group in October 2014 and has since helped the company win several new accounts--PepsiCo’s Brisk, KIND Snacks and Etihad Airways.

Christ has been with The Barbarian Group since 2013 and has helped the company to deliver engaging experiences including the Cannes-winning Samsung “CenterStage,” Intel’s RealSense 3D out-of-box experience, IBM’s dev@Pulse CodeJam, as well as web and campaign work for GE, IBM, Pepsi, Bacardi and Samsung.

  • Monday, Aug. 24, 2015
Tabletop director and DP Michael Ognisanti joins Dictionary Films
Michael Ognisanti
CHICAGO -- 

Dictionary Films has signed director and DP Michael Ognisanti. He had been on the roster of the Chicago-based production company MK Films since 2004, where he was trained as a motion control operator and began assistant-directing and shooting under director Mark Klein. Over these years, Ognisanti built a reputation as a top tabletop director and as a DP for both commercials and documentaries. His commercial credits include spots for Bobble, Bud Light, Coors, Giant Eagle and Golden Corral.

“With budgets and schedules shrinking all the time, versatility is paramount,” said Chris Rossiter, Dictionary managing director. “Michael’s talent as a DP in and beyond tabletop work provides key capabilities that are extremely valuable to us and our clients. I love his tabletop work, and he has already shot as DP for [Dictionary] director Jay Patton on projects that didn’t have a tabletop aspect.”

Before landing with MK, Ognisanti was a videographer and editor at WLAJ-TV in Lansing, Michigan, where he honed his skills in crafting clear and concise visual stories. He is a 2002 graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned his degree in Visual and Media Arts, and he also studied film at the British Film Institute.

The integrated production arm of Cutters Studios, Dictionary Films represents directors through its offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, and together with its partner companies Another Country, Cutters, Flavor and Picnic Media, represents full-service creative capabilities.

“I love the idea of connecting the production and post worlds more completely, and that’s what’s happening at Cutters Studios with Dictionary,” said Ognisanti. “Chicago’s my home and while Cutters and Dictionary are international companies, I love the Chicago film community...so Dictionary being based here is great for me.”

  • Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015
Craig Miller named chair of Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Advisory Commission
Craig Miller
ATLANTA -- 

Craig Miller, executive producer of Craig Miller Productions in Atlanta, has been named by Governor Nation Deal to chair the newly formed Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Advisory Commission.

The advisory commission’s mission is to work with the Georgia Department of Economic Development in attracting production to Georgia and supporting other industries associated with entertainment.

Miller is a respected filmmaker and founder of Craig Miller Productions, creating award-winning projects for an extensive list of Fortune 500 clientele and advertising agencies for 30 years. He is also the current co-president for the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP), the grass-roots organization chiefly responsible for establishing and maintaining Georgia’s Film Incentive.

As chair of the advisory commission, Miller will utilize his vast knowledge of Georgia’s booming entertainment industry and tax incentives to work alongside other experienced advisory board members to help strengthen and continue to grow production in the state of Georgia.

“We are entering a Golden Age of production in Georgia.” Miller said. “The film, music and gaming industries have a significant economic impact in Georgia and continues to provide business opportunities statewide. We have shown that Georgia is the place to be to make films. Now let’s ensure we maintain a strong camera-ready workforce throughout the state and provide information about the vast locations we have available to continue to attract filmmakers and investors to Georgia.”

According to Gov. Deal’s office, Georgia filmmaking had an economic impact of over $6 billion during fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015).

  • Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015
Josh Olson named sr. VP of theatrical/creative director at The Refinery AV
Josh Olson
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. -- 

Marketing agency The Refinery AV has hired Josh Olson as SVP of theatrical/creative director. Olson, who brings more than a decade of experience in entertainment marketing, will work closely with The Refinery AV partner/creative director Brett Winn on company growth initiatives and creative strategies for feature film, television, multimedia and gaming clients.

Olson’s passion for scriptwriting, film marketing and producing is evident in work he has created in partnership with top entertainment brands, including Sony, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Screen Gems, EA, THQ and Square Enix. Along the way, he has collected numerous Key Art and Golden Trailer Awards for his work for “Evil Dead,” “The Vow,” “Resident Evil,” “Safe Haven,” “House at the End of the Street,” and “Black Dynamite,” among many other film and gaming properties.

Olson’s unusual creative journey began in accounting at Aspect Ratio. It wasn’t long until a producer identified his untapped talent as a copywriter. Olson eventually moved over to Trailer Park, where he took on a three-way role by adding producing to the mix. He went on to parlay his talents by launching his own boutique shop Killer Kreative, where his title of “Kreative Director” was synonymous with producing, directing and writing. Most recently, Olson worked as sr. producer at mOcean and SVP of theatrical/creative director at Seismic Productions. 

The Refinery AV’s clients include Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Universal, Screen Gems, Fox Broadcasting, CBS, ABC, and The Weinstein Company.

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