Redscout
Innovation agency Redscout recently announced it will be opening a new office in London to be run by Jason Cobbold as managing director. Cobbold joins the agency from Publicis London, where he had served as deputy managing director since 2010 after leaving BBH. During his spell at Publicis, Cobbold ran the agency's Renault and Tourism Ireland accounts and was also responsible for the successful turnaround strategy on numerous key accounts. At BBH, he led the agency's global Johnnie Walker business. In his new role at Redscout, Cobbold will have more responsibility, leading the agency's London operations, and helping to build its UK profile, as it continues to “Assert itself as the leader in brand-led innovation.” He will also help to develop strategy and drive innovation for the agency's key clients, which include Pepsi and Bacardi.
In his new MD role at Redscout, Jason Cobbold will have more responsibility, leading the agency's London operations, and helping to build its UK profile
Cobbold will be reporting directly to Jonah Disend, the founder and CEO of Redscout, who said the agency's belief has “Always been that the best way to change a consumer's perception of a brand is to change the way they experience it.” He adds that over half of their business is focused on global accounts, so it “Felt essential to open a London office to serve as a hub” for this global work. In Cobbold, he feels they have “Hired the best UK talent,” and says Redscout will be “Supporting him with top talent from the New York office (headquarters) to export (the agency's) culture and expertise in innovation.”
LEVEL Studios
LEVEL Studios, an agency belonging to the recently launched Razorfish Global network (which is itself owned by Publicis), announced recently that Dan Connolly will be filling the role of CEO, just three months after being promoted from partner of the agency to president. As president, Connolly expanded the agency's client roster and bolstered the agency's leadership team with the promotion of Deborah Heslip to partner and the hiring of Ben Ryken as Business Development Director. The agency's revenues have also grown 45.7% year over year from 2013. As CEO, he will sit on the Brand Leadership team of Razorfish Global and will oversee all business units across the agency's U.S. and European locations.
Dan Connolly will be filling the role of CEO at Razorfish Global's LEVEL Studios
Rishad Tobaccowala, Publicis Groupe Chief Strategist and Member of Directoire +, who will play a key advisory role to the agency, said that Connolly has “Proven himself to be a strong leader and has been instrumental in charting a new era of growth and expansion for LEVEL Studios.” Tobaccowala also praises the new CEO's “Entrepreneurial mindset,” which he believes “Has allowed him to not only grow existing business beyond expectations, but also expand the agency's scope of work with innovative, up-and-coming brands.” Connolly himself added that, at LEVEL, they are “Passionate about innovative brands that are revolutionising their industries.” He feels that, as part of the new Razorfish Global network, they have “Expanded scale globally, and he's “Thrilled to take on this brand leadership role within the network.”
Loud
Just a week after the Sydney-based Loud communications agency relaunched under a new management team, a new creative director has been announced in the shape of award-winning creative, Paul Bennell. Bennell has over 20 years of experience in advertising, and has won over 35 industry awards working for agencies all over the world, such as TBWA London, Batey Ads Singapore and Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney. Brands he's worked with over the years include Telstra, Via, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Toyota. He's also a published children's book author, with a series of well-received interactive educational books under his belt. Paul will be joining a team headed up by CEO Lorraine Jokovic head of planning and innovation Gerry Cyron, and ECD Steven Thomson.
Loud's new creative director, Paul Bennell, has over 20 years of experience in advertising, and has won over 35 industry awards working for agencies all over the world
Thomson said that he has worked with Bennell (who is affectionately known by his friends and co-workers as “Pablo,” for “Almost 20 years,” and that they've known each other even longer. He said the industry is “All about ideas, and Paul always has plenty of them,” he also adds that Bennell is a “Lovely bloke to have around,” which always helps. Thomson's plan for Loud is to build a department with a culture based around chemistry, which explains why Bennell's affability is such a boon to the business. He said that “Good chemistry leads to collaboration and that leads to better work,” which for him is a “More interesting and productive way to work than people squirrelling away ideas with their headphones on.” Further additions to Loud's creative department are expected to be made shortly.
