• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015
David Bates returns to Reel FX as general manager
David Bates
Former head of production to lead Commercial and VR divisions
DALLAS -- 

Digital studio Reel FX, Dallas/Santa Monica, has brought back its former head of production David Bates as general manager. Bates spent nearly eight years with Reel FX from 2002-2010, and will leverage his recent executive experience curating talent for creative roles at a wide range of companies to assemble top tier in-house teams for projects across Reel FX’s short form and VR divisions.

Bates' hiring comes on the heels of the recent success of Reel FX’s virtual reality division, Reel FX VR. After opening in September 2014, the division has a slate of immersive experiences, including a recent The Hunger Games 360-degree narrative experience exploring key moments from throughout Katniss’ journey across all films, a fully-integrated recruiting experience for the U.S. Air Force out of GSD&M, and an impactful VR experience for AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign with BBDO New York.

Bates got his start in creative marketing for FOSSIL, spending nearly a decade in multiple roles, including serving as director of the graphics team for a re-launch of the brand’s apparel line as well as leading the creative vision of the in-store experience for stores worldwide. He left FOSSIL to join Reel FX in 2002 as creative director and art department manager, evolving the creative breadth of the department. He transitioned to become the SVP/head of commercial production, bolstering in-house talent, broadening the scope of branded projects, overseeing the build out of the Santa Monica space as well as managing sales, project management and operations. He left in 2010 to apply his creative management skills to a diversified range of companies at Plano, TX-based Bedrock Manufacturing for brands such as Shinola, and Filson, and others such as Marissa Webb and Clare Vivier.

  • Monday, Oct. 26, 2015
Director Andy Baker joins Hornet
Andy Baker
LONDON -- 

International production company Hornet has signed London-based director  Andy Baker.

Baker’s range of work feels completely contemporary while remaining undeniably classic at the same time. His latest animation spot for Marmite and adam&eveDDB--which swept the internet after being released in the U.K. earlier this summer--exhibits not only his storytelling capabilities but his offbeat, charming sense of humor.

Baker will be working closely with Hornet London’s executive producer Lisa Hill, exploring creative opportunities and expanding Hornet’s growing international client base. Known best for his character driven advertising work, he will also be developing his interests in long-form content through Hornet’s IP branch, Hornet Films.

  • Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015
Tom Jacobsen joins VOLT Studios as creative director/partner
Tom Jacobsen
MINNEAPOLIS -- 

VOLT Studios has brought Tom Jacobsen aboard as partner and creative director. Most recently a filmmaker and design director at Pixel Farm, Jacobsen has lent his creative voice to projects on many levels, including directing and animating projects for all screens. Target, 3M, Best Buy, Smirnoff and other noted brands and their respective agencies have collaborated with Jacobsen to bring ideas to life.  Jacobsen’s contribution to commercials and music videos has been recognized with honors from the AICP Show and MTV Music Video Awards.

National and international film festivals have screened Jacobsen’s lyrical short films for motionpoems.com, a nonprofit that brings poets and filmmakers together to create compelling hybrid films.  His most recent film premiered this October at the Weisman Museum as part of the exhibit “Big Bridges. A Collaboration.” He’s also crafted media for experiential and site specific projects for the Minnesota Twins’ stadium, the Golden State Warriors arena, New York’s Grand Central Station,  and the Coca-Cola Theater in Atlanta and the Walker Art Center.

Jacobsen received traditional art training at St. Olaf College and an MFA from UCLA film school. Following graduation from UCLA, Jacobsen worked in Los Angeles as a 3D artist and art director for video games before becoming a lead VFX artist on feature films. His move to Minneapolis, working at both Crash & Sue’s and Pixel Farm, deepened his experience in short form and advertising. Over the years, he has applied his passion for storytelling to a variety of mediums and applications.

“As someone who began as a filmmaker and fine artist, I love the direction the industry is taking,” said Jacobsen. “There’s a growing emphasis on enhanced collaboration, a blurring of traditional lines, both in terms of partnerships and media approaches. The result is a stronger product. VOLT Studios is a great environment to explore and develop what’s next for our clients.”

VOLT Studios collaborates with ad agencies, brands, studios and networks, providing creative production and post services, from concept through completion. At VOLT, Jacobsen will apply his signature blend of filmmaking artistry and strategic thinking to creating visual content for advertising and branded installations.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
Editor Adam Robinson gets to Work
Adam Robinson
LOS ANGELES -- 

Work Editorial has signed editor Adam Robinson. He is currently based in L.A. and will be available for assignments at all Work offices, which include shops in Culver City, Calif., as well as  New York and London.

Robinson hails from Massachusetts and began his editing career in NYC where he spent 10-plus years at Whitehouse Post.

After collaborating with director Harmony Korine on several commercials and short form projects, Robinson was tapped to edit Korine’s Spring Breakers.

While continuing to pursue feature film projects, Robinson keeps himself busy with a balance of commercials, music videos and short films.

Recently Robinson collaborated with director Hiro Murai on an ambitious Google Chromecast commercial campaign for 72andSunny. His recent spots span such brands as Adidas, the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and AT&T.

Robinson comes to Work after finishing his second feature film, writer/director Joshua Locy’s Hunter Gatherer.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
Liz Kane joins Havas Worldwide Tonic as managing director, strategic planning
Liz Kane
NEW YORK -- 

Havas Worldwide Tonic has brought on board Liz Kane as managing director, strategic planning. Previously, Kane was group planning director at Havas Worldwide. In her new role, she will oversee the entire Havas Tonic planning department and will also take on direct planning responsibilities across its Genzyme MS portfolio.

Kane will report to Paul Klein, managing partner, Havas Tonic. She takes over managing director duties for Katie Rogin, who will be transitioning into a group planning director role.

Kane has been with Havas for a little over a year as group planning director across the Reckitt Benckiser portfolio. Prior to joining the agency, she had over 15 years of experience in strategic planning, brand building and relationship marketing with brands including Yoplait, Enfamil, Claritin, and Gilenya.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
Digital Pulp hires Christopher Daly as director of user experience
Christopher Daly
NEW YORK -- 

Christopher Daly has joined agency Digital Pulp as director of user experience reporting to Brian Loube, managing director.  

Daly will be responsible for guiding Digital Pulp’s growing team of UX designers as they translate content strategy into engaging user experiences and create impactful, sustainable solutions for the digital agency’s clients that include Bausch + Lomb, Corcoran, Cornell University, New York University, the University of Virginia, the Urban Institute, Juilliard, and Quest Diagnostics. The director of user experience role recently opened when Digital Pulp partner, Sarah Blecher, took a leave of absence for personal reasons.

“Christopher is the perfect fit for our director of user experience role,” said Ron Fierman, president and CEO of Digital Pulp. “His breadth of experience spans categories from consumer goods and services to enterprise and B2B to health and pharma, and will serve Digital Pulp’s diverse range of clientele well as we develop custom UX solutions to meet each of their unique needs.”

Prior to joining Digital Pulp, Daly served as SVP products & platforms, and head of UX of BBDO Atmosphere Proximity, where he led a multidisciplinary team of information architects, content strategists, interaction designers and researchers on initiatives for Emirates Airline, Dubai Tourism, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, Visa, and Citi. Before that, he led a two-year overhaul of the entire user experience and product design process for a next generation financial advisor toolkit platform called GeoWealth. Prior to that, Daly served was a senior user experience consultant at several leading interactive consultancies in New York City, most notably TandemSeven and Roundarch (Isobar,) and held positions at Agency.com (TBWA) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
Tinygiant signs director Miikka Lommi
Miikka Lommi
BROOKLYN, NY -- 

Finnish director Miikka Lommi has joined the roster of Tinygiant, the Brooklyn-based company launched earlier this year by EP Veronica Diaferia.

Born and raised in Helsinki, Lommi began his career in 1999 when he directed Bomfunk MC’s “Freestyler” music video, which at the time was the bestselling single ever in Europe. Since then, Lommi has directed hundreds of music videos and commercials and has collected multiple Cannes Lions nominations and MTV Europe video awards. His video art installations have been displayed in museums around the world.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
David Boxser named managing director of Alldayeveryday
David Boxser
NEW YORK -- 

Alldayeveryday has appointed David Boxser as managing director, a new position at the entertainment and media company. Boxser will lead the growth of Alldayeveryday’s creative services division, and support the trajectory of the Allday brand as a whole.

He joins Alldayeveryday from the fashion and luxury agency Wednesday, where he served as president of its New York office. There he worked across numerous clients including Nike, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Tacori, Tory Burch and Estee Lauder.

Earlier in his career, Boxser was group business director at Engine Group-owned Deep Focus, where he ran a number of high-profile accounts including Nestlé, Pernod Ricard, Wellpoint and Samsung. He has also had stints at Publicis and Digitas, working on American Express and LG Electronics.

Kevin Kearney, managing partner at Alldayeveryday, said Boxser will play an integral role in sustaining the growth of the company’s creative services department and its further integration with the entertainment division, “offering clients unique creative solutions” and access “to talent and connections within the creative community.”

  • Monday, Oct. 19, 2015
Alasdhair Macgregor Hastie to join BETC as VP/ECD
Alasdhair Macgregor Hastie
PARIS -- 

Alasdhair Macgregor Hastie will be joining agency BETC as VP, executive creative director for international clients.

In the recent past he was CCO of Being/TBWA, based in Paris, notably working on the launch of the Datsun brand for Nissan in Asia, especially India and Japan, Russia and South Africa, and in Doha growing the reputation of The Qatar Foundation.

He has worked in several countries on clients such as P&G, Nestlé, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Nissan, Jeep, Fiat, and Chrysler. In the past two years his work has been rewarded at Cannes Lions, including Gold, Eurobest, including Grand Prix, Epica, The One Show, Cristal Festival, and Club des AD.

His film for Come4 was among the most awarded globally as rated by the Gunn Report in 2014. 

  • Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015
Bruce, Paulekas promoted to creative directors at twofifteenmccann
Neil Bruce (l) and Ezra Paulekas
SAN FRANCISCO -- 

Agency twofifteenmccann has expanded its creative leadership with the promotion of Neil Bruce and Ezra Paulekas to creative directors.

Bruce joined twofifteenmccann in 2011 from TBWA\Chiat\Day in Los Angeles where he worked on Sprint, Snickers, Skittles and Starburst. Previously, he was with Wieden+Kennedy in Portland where he was a writer on ESPN and Nike’s Brand Jordan.

Paulekas began his career as a graphic designer, front-end developer, 3D artist and animator on the east coast before moving to Los Angeles to join Sony Picture’s film marketing group. Prior to joining twofifteenmccann in 2014, he led work on Zune, The History Channel and T-Mobile at design studio Expolis, and worked on Intel, Google and Reebok at Venables Bell & Partners.

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