• Monday, Mar. 6, 2023
Blum Consulting Partners adds global marketer Jim Wallace
Blum Consulting Partners' (l-r) Alex Blum, Andrea Ruskin and Jim Wallace
SAN DIEGO -- 

Global marketer Jim Wallace has officially joined Blum Consulting Partners, Inc., as a key member of the leadership team. This decision comes after four years of partnering together on multiple client projects such as AT&T, Vanguard, and Dell Technologies, and as a response to clients who are looking to Blum for broader strategic consulting expertise in creative marketing execution.

Wallace brings over 25-years’ experience in marketing operations, marketing communications, and agency management to the Blum team which is well-known for creative process and in-house agency consulting. “With his client-side marketing expertise, Jim is able to support in-house agency evaluations, measurement, reporting, and production models, all of which we see as trends with in-house agency management,” said partner Andrea Ruskin. “Blum will now be able to optimize key interactions and process between in-house agency teams and their internal stakeholders and external agency partners. This is an exciting expansion of our current capabilities.”
 
Recent projects for the team include building an in-house studio, developing a methodology for valuation of an existing in-house agency, and training for marketers on who to best give creative feedback.

“We find clients are looking to us for more comprehensive consulting expertise across all aspects of the marketing organization, and the makeup of our leadership team, which also includes agency operations expert Jessica Davidson, reflects that,” said founder Alex Blum.

As in-house continues to evolve and transform to meet specific needs of the business and marketing organization, the team is betting on expanded reach with their current clients and new prospects.

“I am thrilled to join Blum and combine my marketing operations and agency management expertise with their in-house and creative process experience,” said Wallace. “This is a winning combination for marketers.”

  • Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023
UNIT9 hires Media Ridha as head of digital
Media Ridha
LOS ANGELES -- 

UNIT9 has brought Media Ridha on board as head of digital, a newly created role at the production company which is strengthening its influence in the North American market.

Formerly an executive producer at Media.Monks, Google and Jam3, Ridha adds further Web3 and metaverse knowledge to UNIT9’s arsenal one year after the company launched its dedicated Metaverse Advisory Department (M.A.D).

She joins a global team that has been designing and developing cutting-edge digital experiences for the past 26 years--from a mind-ordering pizza app for Domino’s, to deep faking Lionel Messi, and pitting John McEnroe against AI digital avatars from his past. 

Working as a conduit between UNIT9’s North America and EMEA teams, Ridha will team closely with UNIT9 U.S. founder Michelle Craig, U.S. director of production Mindy Lubert, and EMEA managing director Rosh Singh. Ridha’s focus will be on expanding the creative services offering within the North American market, leading on digital and tech-led projects.

Ridha said, “What drew me to UNIT9 was the chance to contribute to a team with a dedicated ambition towards innovation and creativity, and to unearth new opportunities in a company with a proven track record in emerging tech projects and experience design. It was an easy and in some ways serendipitous decision; as our relationship with technology and culture continues to evolve so rapidly, UNIT9’s maker mindset is perfectly set up to identify, explore and deliver on this new set of expectations and desires.“

  • Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023
Rebecca Mitchell joins Final Cut as head of production
Rebecca Mitchell
LOS ANGELES -- 

Creative editorial and postproduction company Final Cut has named Rebecca Mitchell as head of production at its office in L.A. Mitchell will bring more than a decade’s experience as a sr. producer and post supervisor to her new role at Final Cut, having worked in a wide variety of content and formats with clients as diverse as Apple, Salesforce, the NFL, eBay, Fitbit, and Stitch Fix.

Mitchell honed her skills as a post-producer at Nice Shoes in New York. There she spent nearly 10 years working her way up from cruise director (a client-liaison role) to sr. producer. Throughout her tenure at Nice Shoes, Mitchell grew with the company as it evolved from a color and finishing house to a full-service studio, mastering each discipline along the way and finally producing projects and connecting workflows from start to finish.

Since her relocation from New York to L.A. in 2019, Rebecca has managed postproduction for A+E Networks and freelanced at Company 3, The Den Editorial, Cabin Editing, Harbor Picture Company, Nice Shoes, Art Class, and Final Cut in roles as focused as color correction services or as comprehensive as overseeing projects from concept to completion.

“In a highly collaborative profession where late nights and demanding projects are standard, it’s paramount to work with people you genuinely harmonize with,” said Mitchell. “I was fortunate to freelance at Final Cut before coming on board full-time. I’m extremely impressed by the culture here, the high level of cooperation among producers, and the caliber of work Final Cut produces.”

“The driving forces behind Final Cut are collaboration and craft,” said Final Cut’s L.A. executive producer, Suzy Ramirez. “Rebecca has demonstrated her facility and deep respect for both of those core tenets through her work with Final Cut and beyond. She’s a talented mind and a creative spirit.”

  • Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023
Adina Birnbaum promoted to partner at Chromista
Adina Birnbaum
LOS ANGELES -- 

Creative content company Chromista has promoted Adina Birnbaum to partner. Birnbaum first joined the company, which maintains bases of operation in L.A. and New York, in late 2021 as EP of new business development. As partner, Birnbaum will play a pivotal role in amplifying and supporting Chromista’s roster of creatives.

Throughout Birnbaum’s career, she has paired her passion for championing emerging talent and underrepresented voices, with her longstanding love of innovative storytelling and filmmaking. Her previous roles include financial analyst, agency producer, head of production, executive producer at VFX company MPC, and freelance brand/agency executive producer at companies including Instagram, Squarespace, Chobani, Martin Agency, and Johannes Leonardo. This unexpected and gratifying production journey informs her approach to every project. Her brand work includes campaigns and identities for Adidas, The Atlantic, Hermès, Quaker, Kate Spade and Wrigley.

Since joining Chromista in 2021, Birnbaum has helped to bring dynamic new voices and perspectives to the company. Six new directors joined the content company’s roster last year: Candice Vernon, best known for her high-profile celebrity, comedy, and documentary content; Emmy-nominated director and editor Jess Brunetto; comedic director Andrew DeYoung, known for I Love that For You, Shrill, and Gotham Award-nominated Vimeo series 555; award-winning feature film and television filmmaker Patricia Riggin; award-winning writer and director Ella Jones; and multi-talented creative duo The Vortex.

Ted Robbins, partner/executive producer at Chromista, said, “Adina instantly became a vital part of Chromista after joining as EP last year. Her resume was outstanding, but seeing Adina in action--building Chromista to new levels with her connections, experience, and knowledge--was exhilarating. With Adina now a Partner, Chromista’s future has greater potential because of the spirit she brings to the company and her genuine love of creative and respect for diverse voices that deserve to be heard.“

“I am honored to be made a partner at such an extraordinary company, during such a significant time of growth,” said Birnbaum. “Chromista’s artistry and commitment to telling beautiful narratives and visual stories in unique ways continue to inspire me every day as does the dynamic collaboration between my partners and amongst all the artists across our roster.  I love who we are as a company and how we support our directors and our clients. I’m looking forward to continuing the expansion of the Chromista team and its presence within the industry.” 

  • Monday, Feb. 27, 2023
Mila Davis joins Uppercut as exec producer
Mila Davis
LOS ANGELES -- 

Creative postproduction boutique Uppercut has brought Mila Davis aboard as executive producer. Davis joins the expanding team in Los Angeles, where the company opened an office last year.
 
Davis began her entertainment career at TBWA\Chiat\Day, working her way up from an entry-level position to become a producer. She left Chiat to go work on Lexus at Team One Advertising. Shortly after, she was given the opportunity to return to Chiat to work on PlayStation and Apple. She worked there for many years as an executive producer on Pepsi, adidas, and other brands.

Davis was always interested in the postproduction process, which led her to become an executive producer/managing director at Stitch Editing. She’s collaborated with clients such as Amazon, EA, Activision, Facebook, Google, Cuervo, Honda, Hyundai, Nike, Microsoft, and Samsung. She also enjoys working on long-form documentary projects.
 
Having spent much of her childhood in Los Angeles, Davis is enthusiastic about the opportunity to further grow Uppercut’s new studio home in Culver City. In her role, she will guide and support Uppercut’s roster of editors, clients, and collaborators.
 
Of joining Uppercut, Davis says, “Uppercut and (its owner/editor) Micah Scarpelli are different from most of the post houses. I love that all the offices support one another as one company. I look forward to building the Los Angeles office and strengthening the Uppercut brand.”

Uppercut launched in New York City in 2015 and has continued to grow its boutique postproduction capabilities, building out a roster of diverse creative talent, expanding its offerings into VFX, and launching its partner music company, Racket Club.

  • Friday, Feb. 24, 2023
Leighton Greer joins Imaginary Forces as head of production
Leighton Greer
LOS ANGELES -- 

Creative studio Imaginary Forces has brought Leighton Greer on board as head of production. Greer will supervise projects from the bidding to final finishing stages for feature films, episode content, game cinematics, and premium commercials. 

Before joining Imaginary Forces, she worked as an executive producer of VFX for Crafty Apes, Ghost, Rhythm and Hues, Technicolor, and The Mill, among others. Her real passion, however, lies within the purview of Head of Production. 

“My superpower is in assembling a team that can execute a big creative vision, seeing the project across the line, and then taking that success and building it with bigger systems and continuing to lay a foundation for the creativity to flow within the team. Once you have that foundation, the artists are free to grow, create, and do what they do best,” said Greer. 

She continued, “My successes as a producer and in my time in the industry have come more from being able to build those relationships, to help other people continue to grow in their careers, and to find ways to make secure environments for them to flourish in. Ultimately, this is the X-factor that makes a company unique and special. We all have technology. It’s great, and we need it. But that’s not what makes a company. It is those special individuals, and, as leaders, it’s our job to support them.” 

Matthew Barish, COO of Imaginary Forces, said, “I’ve been fortunate to call Leighton a colleague in the past, and I know she’ll accomplish great things with the team at Imaginary Forces. Her energy and approach to production are creative, inclusive, and infectious.”

  • Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
Jenny Cadwell named exec producer of VOLT Studios
Jenny Cadwell
MINNEAPOLIS -- 

Full-service content company VOLT Studios has promoted Jenny Cadwell to executive producer.

A Minneapolis native and former agency producer who has enjoyed successful tenures at Carmichael Lynch, Fallon and Martin Williams. Cadwell returned to her home city to join VOLT as a senior producer a year ago, bringing her agency-side experience to a team with whom she’s long been connected. 

“I have known Steve [company founder Medin] and everyone at VOLT for a long time, so coming back to Minneapolis to join them felt like a homecoming,” said Cadwell. 

Since she joined the team, Cadwell has worked closely with VOLT producer Jennie Ekstrand to build upon the company’s reputation and success as a trusted resource for clients, among them Subaru, Arby’s, Target and Walmart. VOLT’s holistic approach to creative spans production, color, editing, postproduction, motion graphics and visual effects, translating into a seamless experience and creative continuity for brands and agencies. 

  • Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023
EP Leah Donnenberg Ramia joins Greenpoint Pictures
Leah Donnenberg Ramia
BROOKLYN, NY -- 

Bicoastal Greenpoint Pictures has brought Leah Donnenberg Ramia on board as executive producer.

With experience as an agency producer, line producer, and executive producer for short-form content, including commercials, shorts, and music videos, Donnenberg Ramia has honed a well-rounded, holistic approach to the craft of production before joining Greenpoint. She’s worked on lauded campaigns, including a Super Bowl spot for Coinbase that took home a Super Clio, and won a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions. Last year, Donnenberg Ramia collaborated with prominent brands such as Meta and Google. The project for Meta, “Skate Ghana,” won the Grand Prix at Ciclope, Best in Show at AICP, and was nominated for an Emmy.

On top of her commercial work, Donnenberg Ramia’s short films have screened at leading festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs Shortfest, and Fantasia Festival. Donnenberg Ramia also co-founded SLMBR PRTY Films in 2016, a community for women filmmakers and content studio, inspired by the Women’s March. Although no longer a partner, Donnenberg Ramia remains active in the SLMBR PRTY community, participating in and volunteering for events, panels, and screenings.

“I have always gravitated towards those who test longstanding conventions and seek to improve, reinvent, and shape the industry, and Greenpoint has embraced this ethos since its founding,” said Donnenberg Ramia. “I’ve long admired how they pioneered longform branded content, trailblazing an entire category and widening the commercial production market.”

“Leah is a talented producer with a new wave spirit,” said Tatiana Rudzinski, exec producer, partner at Greenpoint Pictures. “She also has a deep passion for filmmaking and an in-depth pulse on the industry that’s not easy to come by every day.”

  • Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023
Editor Aaron Tompkins joins The Den as a partner
Aaron Tompkins
LOS ANGELES -- 

Women-owned, bicoastal edit house The Den has added Aaron Tompkins to its roster of editors. Tompkins, who is based in NYC, is joining as a partner.
 
Tompkins fell in love with editing while watching hip-hop videos as a kid in the 1990s. After having the distinction of being one of two students in his high school’s “film class,” Tompkins went on to study film and graphic design at the University of Arizona. During the summers, he honed his skills at Silvercup Studios in NYC, on HBO megahits including The Sopranos and Sex in the City.

As an editor, Tompkins enjoys working across all genres--from comedy to more fast-paced visual pieces. He has worked on Emmy and Lion-winning global ad campaigns for brands like Google, Budweiser, Nike, and many more throughout his career. In addition to commercial work, Tompkins has also worked on long-form Netflix documentaries. Tompkins also cut Lauren Sick’s atmospheric short for Ford out Wieden+Kennedy which transports the viewer to the driver’s seat as the new Raptor R navigates the nighttime desert landscape with pulse-racing footage and edgy cinematic imagery. 

Christjan Jordan, co-founder/editor at The Den, said, “Aaron has an amazingly versatile style that you see in his editing. His ability to shift between any genre--whether enthralling and emotional storytelling or dynamic, stylized work--shows his tremendous level of craft.”

Tompkins said, “The Den has an incredibly talented group of editors that excel in a wide range of genres. I had already had the pleasure of working with Christjan before, so it is nice to have the chance to work alongside him again. I also really like how The Den has such a creative and collaborative way of working, so I’m just happy to be a part of their very talented team.”  

  • Friday, Feb. 17, 2023
Ellie Bamford joins Wunderman Thompson North America as chief strategy officer
Ellie Bamford
NEW YORK -- 

Ellie Bamford, formerly of R/GA, is joining Wunderman Thompson North America as chief strategy officer. Bamford’s appointment rounds out Wunderman Thompson North America CEO Audrey Melofchik’s leadership vision to fulfill CMOs’ needs for end-to-end capabilities and to deliver inspiration across the entire brand and customer experience.  

Bamford said, “Ellie’s ability to think about ideas and channels fluidly is perfect for our ambidextrous skill set at Wunderman Thompson. She has a deep expertise of the ever-changing media landscape coupled with a sharp eye for insights, strategy, and a love of creativity. On top of all that, she has boundless energy and a passion for helping clients grow.”  

Global chief strategy officer Neil Dawson added, “Ellie is an outstanding strategist with a strong perspective on the future of brands. Her connections planning expertise gives her the superpower to reach across the table to show clients where their work will have the most inspiring impact in culture.” 

As global head of media, connections and influence at R/GA, Bamford led strategy across the network and unlocked innovative creative opportunities for clients, such as last year’s “Superb Owl,” Reddit’s five-second Super Bowl ad. The New York Times named the innovation (which was made within a week) the “unlikely Super Bowl winner,” and the work earned a Cannes Lions Grand Prix.  

Over her 20+ year career, Bamford has created progressive, award winning work for Pepsi, Nike, FILA, Uber, Rockstar Games, Samsung, Spotify, Sephora, American Express and more.

“Traditional brands were built to market static products. But modern brands are the opposite of static,” said Bamford. “We interact directly with products and services via branded interfaces every day. These experiences must be dynamic, data informed, and adaptive. If the work we create for brands is not deeply connected to how it lives in the real world for real people, it won’t be inspiring or effective. My access to Wunderman Thompson’s deep expertise across all aspects of marketing will allow us to make every piece of work deliver something wonderful and valuable for the human who sees it.” 

As a member of the LGBTQIA community, Bamford is known for pushing change and ensuring diversity within her teams and the work they create. This approach has led Bamford to be the strategic mastermind behind work for Sephora, helping to change the search experience to push discovery of Black Beauty content and brands and shine a light on bias. This work for Sephora and Black Beauty is a multi-show award winner culminating with a Silver Cannes Lion.  

She has served as a judge for Cannes Lions, Young Lions and was appointed Jury chair for the Clios in 2023.  

Since her appointment as CEO of Wunderman Thompson North America in December 2021, Melofchik has been thoughtfully building an ambidextrous team with ambitious vision for the agency’s growth. This team includes chief creative officer Tom Murphy, New York CEO Sasan Saedi, chief experience officer Preeya Vyas, global head of design Josh Loebner, chief growth officer Laura Cona, chief client officer Carrie Philpott and most recently global chief creative officer of Wunderman Thompson Health, Renata Maia.

Bamford will report to Melofchik, as well as Dawson.

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