• Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017
72andSunny Amsterdam promotes Simone Moessinger to creative director
Simone Moessinger
AMSTERDAM -- 

72andSunny Amsterdam has recently promoted Simone Moessinger to creative director. She will continue to help 72andSunny Amsterdam dig deeper to deliver progressive work that works across borders and deep in markets with partners such as Axe, Google, HeForShe, adidas, Bugaboo. Moessinger will report to executive creative directors Carlo Cavallone and Stuart Harkness.

Swiss-American Moessinger grew up between Europe and the U.S., and is fluent in six different languages. With over 10 years of experience, Moessinger has worked for W+K in Portland, London and Amsterdam, creating work for Nike and ESPN, and then Anomaly NY, where she developed work for brands such as Converse, Nike, Umbro and Budweiser. 

In 2015, Moessinger joined 72andSunny Amsterdam’s creative team, and since then has helped produce impactful, global work for Google, Benetton and Samsung. She is particularly proud of the work she developed for Samsung for the 2016 Youth Olympic games, which gave  a voice to young athletes who often feel alone, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

  • Monday, Jan. 30, 2017
Editor Danielle Sclafani joins Uppercut
Danielle Sclafani

Creative editorial shop Uppercut has added editor Danielle Sclafani to its roster. Sclafani joins Uppercut--the shop founded by owner/editor Michah Scarpelli--after serving as an editor at Crew Cuts where she spent nearly seven years cutting spots for the likes of CVS, Starbucks, GE, Accenture and IBM. 

“Danielle edits with such focused and deep emotion,” said Uppercut EP Stefanie Bassett. “She can make you laugh, make you cry, and feel everything in between. We are very proud to add such a strong female editor to our roster.” 

  • Friday, Jan. 27, 2017
Miller promoted to chief creative officer at BBDO San Francisco
Matt Miller, chief creative officer, BBDO San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO -- 

Matt Miller has been promoted from executive creative director to chief creative officer of BBDO San Francisco.  Miller will oversee creative direction, as well as work with BBDO S.F. president/CEO Jim Lesser and the rest of the management team on the agency’s business operation. 

Miller joined BBDO San Francisco as an ECD in 2014. Over the past two years, he has helped to attract notable new business and generated high-profile work that has gained attention for clients. He led the creative for Barbie’s “Imagine the Possibilities” campaign, which was instrumental in turning that business around. 

“This promotion recognizes the considerable contribution and impact Matt has had on the growth of the agency and the quality of our creative product,” said Lesser. “In his new role, Matt will have greater opportunities to help shape the future direction of the agency.”  

David Lubars, chief creative officer, BBDO Worldwide, added, “Matt is a fantastic leader, I love what he’s accomplished with the agency.  And, with this well-deserved promotion, I look forward to loving all the things he’s going to accomplish.”

  • Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017
DDB NY hires Rea, Bernhardt, promotes Martinez, Collins
Pictured (l-r) are Alexander Rea, Melissa Martinez, Kimberly Bernhardt, and Michael Collins
NEW YORK -- 

DDB NY has strengthened its management team with two promotions and two new hires. Melissa Martinez, former group business director, has been promoted to chief marketing officer, and Michael Collins, former global business director, has been upped to managing partner. In addition, Alexander Rea has been brought in as creative technology officer, and Kimberly Bernhardt will join the organization as managing partner. 
 
Martinez joined DDB New York two and a half years ago, and has successfully led multiple integrated communications teams during her tenure. Most recently as group business director Martinez led integrated communications planning for the New York Lottery, and digital innovation initiatives and platform development for State Farm. In the newly created role of CMO, Martinez will be responsible for new business development, driving organic growth and leading key strategic marketing initiatives for the agency including introducing potential clients to DDB Flex, the agency’s new agency model for client service in the US.
 
Rea joins DDB New York as CTO from Framestore where he was head of creative technology. There, he worked on Lockheed Martin’s “Field Trip to Mars” which earned 19 Cannes Lions. Previous to Framestore he served as technology experience lead at Co: Collective. This new role is responsible for providing technology leadership and oversight for all of the agency’s projects and directs the technology strategy, development and execution. Rea’s new position is a modern creative refresh on the traditional role that experiments, invents and guides creative and strategic thinking to deliver innovative digital solutions. 
 
As managing partner, Collins becomes further accountable for fostering an environment of collaboration and creativity, driving successful work for DDB New York’s clients, and building positive, enduring agency/client partnerships in his group, which includes clients such as Merck, Lilly, Huawei, and Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies. Prior to assuming his new role, he led integrated agency teams for Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon global surgery business. In addition, he has extensive channel knowledge including digital, sales, advertising, database analytics, and PR.  
 
Bernhardt joins the agency from Glamour, where she served as executive director of communications and had oversight of all communications, including brand development, PR, events, partnerships and special projects.  In her role, she built a number of major brand initiatives that ranged from women’s issues and politics to fashion. She most recently spearheaded Glamour’s Women of the Year. Prior to Glamour, Bernhardt was the executive vice president at Edelman on the global and U.S. Unilever business. In her role, she provided the spectrum of communications for Dove and other marquee personal care brands. 

  • Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017
EP Chris Hill joins Imaginary Forces
Chris Hill
LOS ANGELES -- 

Creative company Imaginary Forces has added executive producer Chris Hill to its Los Angeles studio. Recent work of note at Imaginary Forces, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, includes main titles for Netflix’s summer blockbuster Stranger Things; the logo reveal for Michael Bay’s Transformers: The Last Knight--Paramount’s biggest trailer debut ever; and a one-of-a-kind immersive experience for the Empire State Building.

Hill’s diverse production experience includes commercials, experience design, entertainment marketing and branding for such clients as HBO Sports, Google, A&E, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joins Imaginary Forces after recently presiding over the broadcast division of award-winning entertainment marketing agency bpg.

Hill climbed the ranks at Digital Kitchen in Chicago early in his career. From business development to producing, he led the entire lifecycle of a variety of commercial, broadcast, and experiential jobs for clients, including Microsoft, Reese’s, and Coors Light. In 2011, he expanded his talents to the realm of sports marketing and branding at LA-based agency Troika, where he led accounts, such as HBO Sports, A&E, NBC Sports, and Golf Channel in major rebranding initiatives. In addition, he produced special projects for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Charlotte Hornets, and EA Sports during his four-year tenure at Troika.   

“Imaginary Forces has a proven ability to use amazing design and storytelling across any medium or industry,” said Hill. “To me, that’s really powerful and exciting, and we can expand that ability to new markets, whether it’s emerging technologies, original content, or sports franchises. When you consider, for example, the investment in massive screens and new technologies in stadiums across the country, it demands the same high level of brand strategy and visual storytelling that our film and TV clients have valued for decades.”

  • Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
Paul Sutton joins Circus Maximus as partner/director of production
Paul Sutton
NEW YORK -- 

Circus Maximus has hired Paul Sutton as director of production. He will oversee the production and operations units for the agency which has a client roster which includes Justworks, Siggi’s, and glacéau vitaminwater.

Sutton now reunites with Ryan Kutscher, founder and chief creative officer of Circus Maximus. The two have known each other since the early 2000s when they worked together at CP+B, where Sutton built the digital and interactive production department from the ground up. “I remember sitting in a room with Paul, and people would come by and ask him to fix their email—they thought he was the IT guy,” Kutscher said. “Clients need production agility across digital platforms to grow their businesses and brands—this is non-negotiable. There’s not a better, more experienced person in the industry than Paul.”
 
Before joining Circus Maximus, Sutton served as a consultant for brands, including several global electronics and financial companies. He recently completed a role as the director of digital production for McCann Worldgroup’s m:united unit, where he built the production team that currently services the digital components of Microsoft’s product groups, including Windows Phone, Windows 10, PC and tablet lines.

Prior to m:united, he was director of digital production at JWT New York, where he was tasked with leading all digital production capabilities in the agency’s flagship office. He joined JWT from CP+B, where he served as VP/group executive producer, and led production on Burger King, Baby Carrots, Best Buy, Coke Zero, Jell-O, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Microsoft and Old Navy.

Earlier Sutton was director of digital production at 180LA, managing digital production for Adidas, Boost Mobile and Sony Electronics. And before joining 180LA, he started and built the interactive production group at CP+B. He was there for four years running digital campaigns for American Express, MINI, Burger King and Volkswagen.

Sutton has left a trail of award-winning campaigns in his wake. Career highlights include a Cannes Titanium for “Counterfeit MINI,” Cannes Grand Prix for Volkswagen GTI Interactive, Cannes Gold Lion for Macy’s “Yes, Virginia” school plays campaign, One Show Gold for the Domino’s “BFD Builder” and a Webby’s People’s Voice Award for Burger King’s “Whopperettes.”

  • Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
Zambezi hires Maxwell, Johnston, promotes Rutkowski
Annie Johnston (center) is flanked by Dan Maxwell (l) and Chris Rutkowski.
LOS ANGELES -- 

Independent creative agency Zambezi has hired Dan Maxwell as creative director, Annie Johnston as associate creative director and promoted Chris Rutkowski to associate creative director.
 
Maxwell, who had been freelancing in recent years, held previous staff positions as associate creative director at R/GA Los Angeles, copywriter at Wieden+Kennedy and creative technologist at Venables, Bell and Partners. He was part of the W+K team that won a Cannes Gold Grand Prix for Heineken’s “The Express” campaign featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond, and helped launch Beats by Dre while at R/GA, winning a Sports Gold Grand Clio for the “Hear What You Want” campaign. 

Johnston, a veteran art director from TBWA\Chiat\Day, was an integral part of winning the Airbnb pitch and producing the Effie winning international TV commercial. Throughout her time there, Johnston worked closely with Lee Clow on animal welfare group, Best Friends Animal Society. 

Rutkowski is a three-year veteran of Zambezi, which he joined after working at Pereira O’Dell. As sr. art director he was part of the Zambezi team that won the Cannes Mobile Gold Award for the “Uncommon Force” campaign for Stance.

  • Monday, Jan. 23, 2017
Fitzgerald & Co. hires Mike Groenewald, Bowen Mendelson to handle Coca-Cola creative
Mike Groenewald
ATLANTA -- 

Advertising agency Fitzgerald & Co. has hired creative directors Mike Groenewald and Bowen Mendelson to work exclusively on the agency’s growing Coca-Cola business at Fitzco//McCann, its dedicated Coke unit. The pair will report to executive creative directors Wes Whitener and Mitch Bennett.
 
Fitzco has increased its headcount almost 25% in 2016 and recruited several senior-level executives outside the Atlanta area. The agency’s growth is the result of new business from brands such as Checkers & Rally’s, Coca-Cola’s Odwalla, and American gas and electric utility holding company Southern Company.
 
Groenewald hails from Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a CD and art director with 15 years of experience and numerous creative awards including several Cannes Lions, Clios and One Show and D&AD Pencils. Groenewald has worked on blue-chip accounts such as SABMiller, Nike, KFC, Standard Bank (South Africa’s largest bank) and Nissan.
 
Mendelson has served as CD and copywriter in the creative departments of several top shops including Ogilvy & Mather, mcgarrybowen, Energy BBDO and Deutsch. He has worked on brands such as Uber, Quaker Oats, Huggies, Sears, Wrigley, BP, Arby’s, General Mills and Expedia.

  • Monday, Jan. 23, 2017
Kerry Shea to head Deluxe's Vancouver VFX studio
Kerry Shea
LOS ANGELES -- 

Deluxe Entertainment Services has named veteran production executive Kerry Shea head of its Vancouver studio, overseeing day-to-day operations for Deluxe’s global visual effects (VFX) brand Method Studios and TV post/VFX brand Encore. In this role Shea will lead the studio’s world-class talent and resources to deliver the highest-quality work for feature films and episodics. 

Deluxe’s Method Studios is among the largest in terms of worldwide VFX capacity, with studios in Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, New York and India. A key focus for Shea will be to collaborate with worldwide counterparts and Method global head of features VFX Gabby Gourrier to match the talent and capacity of Method’s worldwide studios with clients’ creative and budget needs to provide the right combination of resources and location for any production. As the Encore team continues to raise the bar in visual sophistication for episodics, Shea’s leadership of both teams and studio-wide resources will optimize efficiency and quality across all productions.

Shea reports to president and GM of Deluxe VFX and VR Ed Ulbrich. “We’re working to align all of our VFX teams worldwide to operate as one integrated studio, and having Kerry heading our 500-person Method team in Vancouver is going to be key in the growth of our global capacity for feature films,” he said. “Kerry’s institutional and operational knowledge of VFX and post is of the highest order.”

Credited on more than 60 feature films, Shea has an extensive background in visual effects and post as well as live action, animatronics and creature effects. She joins Deluxe from previsualization company The Third Floor where she was chief operating officer. Previously she was a digital producer at Digital Domain on Disney’s massive VFX feature Tron: Legacy, head of digital production at Jim Henson Co. where she spearheaded creation of the digital studio and pipeline for the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Sid the Science Kid, production manager at DreamWorks Animation on Madagascar bidding and scheduling that feature as well as overseeing key departments, digital production manager at Sony Imageworks (Polar Express, Stuart Little 2), postproduction manager at Square USA, VFX coordinator at DreamQuest Images, and bidding producer/production manager at Banned from the Ranch. She began working on films at the age of 19, starting her VFX career at 20th Century Fox as a VFX coordinator on Alien Resurrection

Shea said, “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Method on a number of features and I’ve always been blown away by the quality and inventiveness of the work. When I met the Vancouver teams personally, the camaraderie, the collaboration, and the welcoming environment made me want to join immediately. That culture of teamwork, on top of the talent and massive technical capability of Deluxe overall, made it a very easy decision.”

  • Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017
EP Kitty Snyder joins Artifact Design
Kitty Snyder
ATLANTA -- 

Creative studio Artifact Design has brought postproduction veteran Kitty Snyder on board as executive producer. In this role, she will bring her expertise in developing brand and marketing strategies, cultivating client relationships, and bidding and producing projects. 

Most recently, Snyder was the director of creative partnerships for the Atlanta branches of Beast, Company 3 and Method Studios, part of Deluxe Entertainment. Her previous positions include producer at ad agency Huge, working on campaigns for such clients as Airheads, Lowe’s, Mohawk, and Coca-Cola; and a nearly decade-long tenure as sr. business manager, creative services at Crawford Media Services.

Snyder’s enthusiasm for all things creative originates from a background in music. A former singer-songwriter, she has toured all the over the country both solo and with bands. She got her start in the television and film industry producing and writing for various network shows for HGTV and GPTV. Since then, she has collaborated with clients, such as Tyler Perry Studios, Cartoon Network and CNN, as well as ad agencies BBDO, JWT and Ogilvy & Mather. 

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