People on the Move

SixTwentySix has appointed Jonny Edwards as its head of production and executive producer. 

A veteran of the creative industry, Edwards served for three years as director of production at branding agency Herman-Scheer, and for nine years as executive producer at 72andSunny + Hecho Studios. His career path also includes four years as an associate producer at RSA Films/Ridley Scott Creative Group, two years of freelancing in the commercial sector, and involvement in reality television. Drawing from his extensive experience in agencies and studios, Edwards will play a pivotal role in shaping creative studio SixTwentySix’s overarching strategy across its business divisions and will report directly to company co-founders Jake Krask and Austin Barbera.

Edwards said, “I’ve had my eyes on SixTwentySix for the past few years. They’ve been somewhat under the radar but have been churning out incredible content. Now that I’ve had a chance to get to know Austin and Jake on a deeper level, it all makes sense. They have amazing drive and determination in creating world-class content. The creatives they have curated are insanely talented and are the future of content creation. I’m excited to partner with them to help drive innovative ways of creating content, elevating the client and agency experience, and driving overall continued growth for the company.”

Throughout his career, Edwards has worked with leading directors such as Jake Scott, Paul Feig, DJ Caruso, and RJ Cutler to name only a few, contributing to a portfolio that boasts a roster of work for clients that include Google, Starbucks, Coors Light, Smirnoff, Best Buy, Carl’s Jr., Activision and Adobe. 

SixTwentySix has created award-winning and culture-defining work for clients including Squarespace, BP, Chevy, Samsung, Bumble, Xbox, Adidas, Turo, Postmates, PetSmart, Wendy’s, and Coca-Cola along with award-winning agencies and partners such as Virtue, Mother LA, Maximum Effort, Commonwealth//McCann, YARD NYC, and TBWA\Chiat\Day.

James Woolley has been named executive director of the Miami Film Festival (MFF). Having celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, MFF is currently preparing for the 10th anniversary of its GEMS festival, taking place November 2-5.

Woolley has spent the last 15 years working on more than 20 large-scale film festivals, including the Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane International Film Festivals. In 2017, he was named Sydney Film Festival’s head of marketing and customer relations, rebranding the organization and overseeing strategies to drive attendance. He comes to Miami after serving as executive director of Frameline, one of the largest film festivals on the West Coast.

Woolley will oversee all MFF operations and activities while nurturing relationships with established and emerging filmmakers, distributors, sponsors, donors, and the greater Miami film community.

Final Cut has added comedic editor Phil Hignett to its roster. His exploits span advertising, feature film and television. Hignett has previously worked closely with the team while cutting hit comedy Sex Education at Final Cut’s dry-hire facility, The Lofts, in London’s Fitzrovia district.

Hignett first discovered his love of editing and the art of making people laugh while at university, when a friend asked him to help cut a loose homage to This is Spinal Tap. Getting his industry start at Marshall Street Editors, Hignett worked his way up to editor, collaborating with directors such as Nick Jasenovec, Keith Schofield, Jake Szymanski, Jeff Labbé and Rhys Thomas. Hignett’s commercial showreel includes projects for clients such as Mercedes-Benz, Barclaycard, Virgin Media, KFC, British Airways and BT.

With the support of long-time collaborator Ben Taylor, Hignett ventured into the world of longform in 2019, working with the director on the critically acclaimed Year of the Rabbit, starring Matt Berry. Hignett’s work on Sex Education earned him awards for editing at the BFE Cut Above Awards and Televisual Bulldog Awards, with the most recent season winning Best Comedy at the 2023 International Emmys. Other longform credits include the multi BAFTA-winning hit series Stath Lets Flats and upcoming Disney+ series Renegade Nell.

“As a little boy growing up in Australia, I always dreamed of joining Final Cut,” said Hignett. “That was the name of the barbers down the street. But this is just as good. Probably better.”

Final Cut U.K. managing director David Webb said, “Phil has a remarkable sense of comedic timing--both in the edit and in life. He’s a great editor and a wonderful human being.”

“After hosting Phil on numerous longform projects at The Lofts, we’ve become accustomed to having him around,” said Final Cut executive producer Michelle Corney. “We’re chuffed to bits that he’s decided to join the Final Cut team for commercial representation.”

Final Cut maintains offices in London, New York and L.A.

Canadian art director Janice Ko and Australian copywriter Jack Harrison have joined We Are Pi as it expands its creative innovation consultancy offering to new international clients. Ko and Harrison have been recognized as Future Lions contenders at Cannes and their work has been awarded at D&AD, The One Show and London International Awards.  

We Are Pi co-founder and executive creative director Rick Chant said, “Janice and Jack’s unconventional attitude brings relevant and radical solutions to every opportunity. They look at things sideways, their twists on briefs are enough to make a pretzel jealous.”

Ko grew up in a Cantonese household on the east coast of Canada before moving to Australia as an angsty teen. Now an adult, she works as an art director, most recently plying her trade at Special Group and VMLY&R Melbourne, working on brands such as Red Bull, Uber Eats, Sharpie, ANZ and the Australian Defence Force. Outside of ads, she enjoys dancing badly and hanging out in hammocks (sometimes at the same time). Ko’s work has been recognized at D&AD, LIA and The One Show.

Harrison spent four years at VMLY&R in Melbourne, and worked on major campaigns for the Australian Defence Force, Monash University, and PTV. Now he finds himself in Amsterdam brushing stroopwafel crumbs off his shirt. 

We Are Pi is an award winning creative innovation consultancy that partners with clients to build brands worthy of thriving in changing times by initiating transformation programs. We Are Pi client partners include Amazon, Nike, IDFA, Heineken, Intersport, Pepsico and Patagonia. We Are Pi cultural research platform, New Society Rules, helps brands navigate cultural change. We Are Pi content arm, Pi Studios, produces groundbreaking stories about cultural change.