People on the Move

Carmichael Lynch has announced that president Marcus Fischer will be named the agency’s fourth CEO in its 55-year history. 
 
“Marcus has been pivotal in building the momentum and success of Carmichael Lynch in recent years. He has proven his ability to successfully manage the business, while simultaneously inspiring the people around him,” said current CEO Mike Lescarbeau, who will move to the role of executive chairman. “In the last few years, Marcus has built a leadership team that is committed to collaboration and interdependence across disciplines to build a unique and unrivaled offering of advertising and PR under one roof, and I’m excited for the future of the agency under his leadership.”
 
Fischer rejoined Carmichael Lynch as president in 2013, and the agency has had four years of consecutive, double-digit revenue growth since, with more than 16 percent growth in 2016 alone. This growth is due to the strength and organic growth of many long-term partnerships coupled with new business wins – U.S. Bank, Arla Foods and Truvía, among others. Simultaneously, the agency’s head count has grown by 43 percent while maintaining a culture of inclusivity that has resulted in enviable employee retention numbers, illustrated by the agency’s 2016 turnover rate of less than 10 percent (the 4A’s estimates average agency turnover rate at 30 percent).  
 
“I’m honored to lead Carmichael Lynch and continue the energy we’ve built over the last few years,” said Fischer. “I am thankful for the team that has made this agency what it is today – a people-centric organization focused on business, culture and great creative work. We’ve made collaboration and integration pivotal to our offering. This unique approach is how brands can transcend the rational and become emotionally meaningful and become part of, and shape, culture.” 
 
This evolution has been demonstrated by changes in the agency’s leadership team, including the promotion of Julie Batliner, president of the agency’s PR firm, Carmichael Lynch Relate, and Marty Senn, chief creative officer, to managing partners in 2016.
 
Prior to rejoining Carmichael Lynch, Fischer spent four years at the helm of digital firm Space150, where he helped dramatically grow the agency. He’s also spent time at One and All, Fallon, and a previous stint at Carmichael Lynch.
 
Over his career, Fischer has helped shape the strategy and award-winning work for such brands as Subaru, U.S. Bank, Harley-Davidson, BMW, Target, Porsche, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dairy Queen, Starbucks, Nordstrom and Purina Dog Chow. 
 
Fischer regularly speaks at industry events, including most recently the ANA Brand Master Conference in a session about Carmichael Lynch’s work and sustained success with long-time client, Subaru. He’s also taught at both the MiamiAdSchool and BrainCo.
 
Outside the agency’s walls, Fischer is an avid fly fisherman and has served on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota for the last five years. He lives in a suburb of Minneapolis, with his wife and three sons.

VML has made three promotions and a new hire in its creative department. 
 
Kelly Durham has been promoted to executive producer of integrated production. Since joining VML in 2015, Durham has played an instrumental role in delivering some of the agency’s best-produced work including for Gatorade. Her role will focus on managing and elevating the broadcast work done by VML Chicago. Durham will report to Tyler Smith, head of production.
 
In addition to Durham’s promotion, Susan Hatten has been hired as a senior producer for the integrated production team, working on Pepsico. Hatten will be producing projects for several brands including Gatorade and Tropicana. She started her career in Kansas City, working for Valentine-Radford before moving to Chicago and later joining Ogilvy & Mather where worked as a senior content producer for the past 11 years. She has been a producer on nearly every national and global account at Ogilvy – producing shoots in more than 22 countries. Susan will relocate back to Kansas City to be based out of VML’s global headquarters. She brings a vast array of production and art buying knowledge to her new role. Hatten will also report to Smith.
 
Derek Clark has been promoted to executive creative director leading Tennessee Department of Tourist Development work and the recently won Electrolux / Frigidaire business. Clark joined VML in 2015 as group creative director of the Gatorade team. Clark has worked on multiple award-winning advertising campaigns including one of the original branded Snapchats with the G Dunk filter takeover during the Super Bowl. The work received five Cannes Lions, including gold, silver, and bronze, across a variety of categories. Clark will report to Debbi Vandeven, global chief creative officer. Prior to VML, Clark worked with several agencies including Leo Burnett, mcGarrybowen, and Cavalry.
 
Rob Romine has been promoted to group director, experience design. He joined VML in 2008 and has lead the experience design for clients such as FordPass, Common Wealth Bank of Australia, Korean Airlines and Electrolux focusing on eCom, user-centered design for mobile, web and retail experiences. Romine reports to Chris Wallen, managing director, experience design.

Five-year veteran creative director Katy Hornaday has been promoted to executive creative director at Kansas City-based agency Barkley. Additionally, Paul Corrigan has been tapped to lead Barkley’s Blacktop design unit. 

In her prior role as creative director, Hornaday led creative work for Hershey, Anheuser-Busch, Cargill, Noodles & Company and Vanity Fair, as well as a number of other brands since joining Barkley in 2012. Her work for Hershey TAKE5 was Barkley’s most-awarded work ever at this year’s Kansas City Addys, including the award of Overall Best In Show. 

Previously Hornaday was a sr. copywriter at Crispin, Porter + Bogusky, working on brands such as Old Navy and Baby Carrots, before moving to Mullen in Boston where she held the title of associate creative director for brands like Zappos and JetBlue. 

Hornaday replaces Jason Elm, who is departing Barkley. 

Meanwhile in an effort to build up its portfolio in brand experience and design, long-time Barkley veteran Corrigan has been named executive design director. He will head the Blacktop design unit. As part of the change, Barkley’s experience design team will now report to Corrigan within Blacktop.

Corrigan has been with Barkley since 2004 and prior to this promotion has held the titles of VP/interactive creative director, executive creative director, and design director. He replaces Blacktop founder Shawn Polowniak, who is leaving Barkley.

2C Creative has promoted Nikki Coloma to the position of general manager, sr. director of operations. The new role expands on Coloma’s expertise, involving her more in the creative agency’s evolving business and its bottom line, while she continues to supervise all phases of production, overseeing client communication and the creation of support production teams for each project.
 
“Nikki has been a tremendous asset to 2C, playing a big part in our success and workflow very early on,” said 2C founder and Chief Creative Officer Chris Sloan. “Her promotion was the obvious best move for us as we continue to grow and evolve.”
 
Coloma joined 2C in 2009 after serving as a production coordinator for Worldwide Productions, where she produced commercials for Nike, Coca-Cola and Gatorade, among others. She had also been an associate producer on A&E’s The First 48 and CMT’s Danger Coast, which was a 2C original series. Coloma graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Economics and Finance and a minor in Entrepreneurship.