• Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015
Walczak, Ogilvie leave Zulu Alpha Kilo to open The Garden
Shane Ogilvie (l) and Shari Walczak.
TORONTO -- 

Shari Walczak and Shane Ogilvie, former Zulu Alpha Kilo (ZAK) executives, have left their posts at the agency to open up creative company The Garden.

Ogilvie, previously ZAK’s executive creative director, and Walczak, formerly its executive planning director, promise a holistic approach to The Garden’s creative offering, which includes making marketers a part of the entire process and working with all divisions of a company to design and deliver the best possible brand experience.

“It can no longer be just about buying impressions; it has to be about making them,” said Walczak. “The customer now controls the conversation, which means the experience has to align with the promise at every point of contact.”

Ogilvie and Walczak said The Garden will employ a unique model wherein teams of experts will be custom built and brought in to address specific problems. They could include technologists, interior designers or even hospitality consultants. It’s not just about writers and art directors anymore.

“The problem to be solved drives the decision on who’s brought in,” said Ogilvie.

“Of course, everyone is asking ‘will you still make advertising’ and the answer is yes, if that’s what the solution dictates, but we’re also happy to partner with a company’s AOR, in-house creative department or a third-party content creator to bring an idea to life,” added Walczak.

The Garden is currently working with several companies who have shown interest in the new model and hope to announce some formal partnerships in the coming weeks.

Ogilvie has over 15 years of industry experience at some of the most creative agencies in both in Canada and the US and has worked on some of North America’s biggest brands, including Bell, Coca-Cola, Corona, Tabasco, Capital One, Audi and Budweiser. Ogilvie’s work has been awarded both at home and around the world, including Cannes Lions, The Clios, The New York Festivals and London International, among others.

Walczak has over 20 years of industry experience, and has applied creative problem solving techniques to the business challenges of some of the country’s biggest brands including Interac, Corona, Cineplex Entertainment, ING Direct (now Tangerine), Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola and ParticipACTION.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015
Bill Thomas becomes associate exec director of the Art Directors Guild
Bill Thomas
LOS ANGELES -- 

Bill Thomas has been appointed associate executive director of the Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800), replacing the retiring John Moffitt. Thomas reports to ADG executive director, Scott Roth, and started his duties on February 1.

Thomas was previously national director, electronic media services division and head of the West Coast office of the American Federation of Musicians. Prior to that he was executive director, Los Angeles of SAG-AFTRA (formerly AFTRA) for six years. While there he orchestrated negotiations of all television, commercials, broadcast and new media contracts for the Los Angeles region. He also worked as VP at Fitch Thomas Management in New York and at ASCAP for 14 years, first as director of public affairs and then assistant VP and chief of staff.

ADG represents 2,300 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as production designers, art directors, assistant art directors, scenic, title and graphic artists, illustrators and matte artists, set designers and model makers.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015
Producer Ryan Faucett joins Butter Music and Sound
Ryan Faucett
NEW YORK -- 

Bicoastal music shop Butter Music and Sound has added producer Ryan Faucett to its New York studio.

Coming to Butter from MassiveMusic, Faucett first hit the road as a tour manager before getting into commercials and has since composed and produced spots for the likes of Reese’s, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Whole Foods and Motorola.

Butter maintains offices in Venice, Calif., and in NYC. The company is headed by managing director Ian Jeffreys.
 

  • Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Anomaly Amsterdam adds Ginsborg, Jorgensen as partners/executive creative directors
Lars Jorgensen (l) and Martin Peters Ginsborg
AMSTERDAM -- 

On the heels of it recently been named as lead global creative agency for Johnnie Walker, Anomaly Amsterdam has bolstered its sr. creative power with the hiring of creative duo Martin Peters Ginsborg and Lars Jorgensen. The two have been named partners and executive creative directors, working alongside Anomaly Amsterdam’s current partners, CEO Hazelle Klønhammer and chief strategy officer Amanda Fève. 

Before moving to Anomaly Amsterdam, Ginsborg and Jorgensen helped create award-winning work for Anomaly New York, Grey, mcgarrybowen, Mullen and Saatchi & Saatchi, spanning global brands like Johnnie Walker, Budweiser, NFL, Marriott, Verizon, Captain Morgan, The Wall Street Journal and Reebok.

The new hires herald the start of an exciting period of growth for Anomaly Amsterdam, as the agency launches a global search to recruit exceptional talent, across all disciplines, to work on headline campaigns for clients such as Johnnie Walker and Converse. The Johnnie Walker account will involve all of the Anomaly offices with global leadership out of Amsterdam.

  • Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
Treehouse hires Jeff Vick, expands into motion graphic services
Jeff Vick
DALLAS -- 

Editorial boutique Treehouse has expanded its services through the hiring of motion graphics designer Jeff Vick and the addition of a new graphics design and production suite. The Dallas-based company will offer graphics both in tandem with editing and finishing, and as a standalone service.

Vick brings 10 years of experience as a motion graphics designer for commercials, broadcast media and corporate media, most recently with Fast Cuts Edit, Dallas. His credits include work for H-E-B, Red Lobster and the Dallas Cowboys. He has already contributed to several projects for Treehouse, including a campaign for Home Depot and a spot for H-E-B that debuted during this year’s Super Bowl broadcast.

Treehouse founder, editor Peter Tarter, said that in-house graphics capabilities enable the company to provide advertising agencies with a well-rounded package of postproduction services and fulfill more of their creative needs. “This gives us one more way to deliver work that is better than the clients expect,” Tarter noted. “Our new graphics capabilities will allow us to add an extra layer to a lot of projects.”

Vick will work in a new graphics suite equipped with a host of high-end software packages including Adobe After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator, and Maxon Cinema 4D, as well as sophisticated monitoring and processing gear.

A Dallas native, Vick received his training in graphic design at NYU, where he earned his Master’s Degree. Vick returned to Dallas in 2004 to work with the Dallas Cowboys, serving as creative director and motion graphics designer for its in-house broadcast production department.

In 2008, Vick joined n2o Editorial, Dallas, and moved to Fast Cuts Edit in 2012. At both shops, he served as a motion graphics designer for advertising projects.

  • Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015
Revolver Films Signs Director Thibaut Duverneix
Thibaut Duverneix
TORONTO -- 

Director Thibaut Duverneix has joined Revolver Films, helping the Toronto-based company to further expand its offerings in the fields of interactive, experiential and installation.

Born and raised in France, but now based in Montreal, Duverneix is a multidisciplinary artist who boasts a diverse body of work in music, photography, computer programming, animation and film. His talent has carried him across a number of different genres with a focus on innovative ways of creating film and experiences.

In 2008 he co-founded Montreal-based creative studio Departement, taking on the dual roles of film and interactive director until 2014. Also in 2008, Duverneix lent his talents to the artistic directing of the Nine Inch Nails tour Lights in the Sky with Montreal-based new media and entertainment studio Moment Factory. His work has been featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, CFC, Toronto International Film Festival, and Creators Project, among other venues, and ​he’s garnered numerous Vimeo Staff Picks.

In 2012, Duverneix was named one of the New York Art Directors Club’s Young Guns, amongst the best creatives under 30 in the world.  His current commercial film portfolio includes work for Couche-Tard, Astral Media, the Government of Quebec and the City of Montreal.

  • Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015
Editor Paul Zucker joins Final Cut
Paul Zucker
Frequent collaborator with Judd Apatow secures spot editing roost
LOS ANGELES -- 

Final Cut has hired editor Paul Zucker who’s most notably acknowledged for his work cutting HBO’s hit show Girls, executive produced by Judd Apatow and Lena Dunham. Zucker recently co-edited the upcoming Apatow-directed Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer. In addition to the first three seasons of Girls, Zucker also worked on Apatow’s This is 40 and edited the pilot of HBO’s critically acclaimed Silicon Valley, created by Mike Judge.

Prior to his recent comedy-centric work, Zucker edited for some of cinema’s most innovative auteurs, from Michel Gondry to Harmony Korine. Beginning his career as an assistant editor in New York City and quickly rising through the ranks, Zucker served as associate editor in 2001 for director Gus Van Sant on the feature Gerry which starred Matt Damon. Zucker continued his career with an extended stint as an additional editor on the Gondry-directed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, winner of a BAFTA award for best editing (won by editor Valdís Óskarsdóttir). Zucker and Óskarsdóttir then served as editors on Korine’s Mister Lonely, which made a splash at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

With a plethora of other feature, documentary and music video credits under his belt, Zucker has also found time to straddle the fine art world, editing projects for noted artists such as Sarah Morris, Rashid Johnson and Luis Gispert.

The move to Final Cut is a new and chapter for Zucker. “I’ve edited everything from music video, gallery, and experimental work to features, television and documentary. I’m excited to bring my storytelling craft from these other formats to my advertising work,” he said.

Stephanie Apt, president of Final Cut, added, “We have had great success bringing feature editors to advertising, as well as seeing editors from our commercial roster cross over to features, all making for a very stimulating environment at Final Cut. Knowing Paul’s breadth of work and passion and creativity, I am confident that we will be introducing an editor that clients will really enjoy collaborating with on a variety of work.”

Final Cut is a creative editorial and post company collaborating on commercials, feature films and music videos with offices in London, New York and Los Angeles. 

  • Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015
Editor Kristina Z. Cruse joins Post Op
Kristina Z. Cruse
DALLAS -- 

Post Op has hired editor Kristina Z. Cruse.  Her spot editing credits span such agencies as The Atkins Group, Dieste, The Richards Group, Moroch, Commerce House, GSD&M and TracyLocke, and brands including CPS Energy, At&T, The Home Depot, Match.com, HEB, Taco Bell, Nationwide Insurance and P&G.

Previously, Cruse spent 12 years as a staff editor at Fast Cuts after stepping into the industry as a color assistant at The Filmworkers Club. 

Headed by managing director Diana Schroeder, Post Op was founded as a post boutique offering creative editorial to the advertising community. The shop has expanded its services to include end-to-end content production.

  • Monday, Feb. 9, 2015
Editor Shira Ankori joins BlueRock
Shira Ankori
NEW YORK -- 

Creative editorial shop BlueRock has added editor Shira Ankori whose credits span such brands as Sony, Walmart, Toyota and Taco Bell. An adept storyteller with a keen eye for comedy, she has worked with various notable directors, including Ted Melfi (St. Vincent) and the Russo Brothers (Arrested Development, Community).

“Shira and I worked together years ago, and I have watched her grow from the driven assistant editor with an inextinguishable spark at the start of her career into the smart, dedicated, and talented editor she is now,” said Jennifer Lederman, BlueRock’s VP/managing director. “When the opportunity came up to hire her as a freelance editor, I jumped on it, and since then she’s knocked every project we’ve thrown at her out of the park. Making her a permanent part of our team was a no-brainer.”

Ankori started her editing career at Red Car NY, ultimately arriving at Blue Rock from Beast in NY. 

  • Monday, Feb. 9, 2015
180 hires Mike Harris as global chief strategy officer
Mike Harris
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- 

Mike Harris joins ad agency 180 this week in the newly created position of global chief strategy officer. Harris will work across 180’s offices in Santa Monica and Amsterdam to drive new business growth as well as tackle high-level strategic opportunities for the agency’s clients. He joins the agency’s executive management team; including William Gelner (chief creative officer, 180LA), Michael Allen (global CEO), Al Moseley (president and chief creative officer, 180 Amsterdam), and Chris Mendola (founder/chairman). 

Harris most recently served as president of creative advertising services for Deluxe Entertainment. Prior to that, his career includes running DDB California as president & CEO, founding agency twofifteenmccann San Francisco, serving as chief strategy officer for TBWA\Chiat\Day, San Francisco, and spending five years each as an account person at Goodby Silverstein & Partners and Y&R in San Francisco. His work has garnered multiple global Effies and Cannes Grand Prix honors, and he has a campaign in the Clio Hall of Fame. Along with his creative and strategic accolades, Harris has helped drive growth for clients across a variety of categories. 

Harris’ new appointment follows 180 Amsterdam’s hiring of executive creative directors Dave Canning and Dan Treichel. Their books include breakthrough work for ESPN, Southern Comfort, and Climate Name Change.

An Omnicom subsidiary, 180 had numerous account wins last year and grew their business with existing clients like HP (who now engages both offices), Mitsubishi, PlayStation, Qatar Airways, and DHL. Other clients include Pepsi, Expedia, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Boost Mobile, and Replay Jeans.

Last year 180LA won two Effies for strategic effectiveness with Expedia and adidas, while 180 Amsterdam was awarded the Euro Grand Prix Effie for its work on PlayStation.

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