Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific
Andy Annett has been appointed as managing director of TODAY Ogilvy & Mather Myanmar. Based in Yangon, Annett will lead efforts to develop the agency’s social and digital offering, expand its creative capabilities and nurture local talent. As managing director, Annett will work closely with Tha Tun Oo (Michael Lim), chairman/CEO, and the new creative director, Patrick Plutschow, to grow the TODAY O&M business and support more international, regional and local brands to build their reputation in Myanmar through bold, creative and culturally-relevant marketing campaigns. He joins TODAY O&M from his previous role as founder and managing director at UK consultancy, Ink Consulting, where he advised high growth creative businesses on commercial and marketing strategies.
Andy Annett has been appointed as managing director of TODAY Ogilvy & Mather Myanmar
Commenting on the appointment, Paul Heath, chairman at Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific, said: “Bringing Andy on board is a huge coup for us. We were the first agency to expand into Myanmar when we partnered with TODAY in 2012. This appointment now means we are the only agency network with a managing director in post in Myanmar. It demonstrates our continued commitment to growing our presence in the market and enabling more clients to tap into Myanmar’s massive potential.” Annett adds: “For me, TODAY O&M offers something very different. We combine a strong local identity and insights with the resources and expertise of the wider Ogilvy network. I’m looking forward to playing a key role in driving the business forward, but also helping to develop the burgeoning advertising and marketing sector in Myanmar and growing the creative community we have here. It sounds ambitious, but there is massive potential.”
Frequency 540
Independent digital marketing agency Frequency540 has hired veteran creative talent Melissa Healy as creative director. Healy, who previously held the same role at Digitas, will lead all creative for the Chicago-based agency's work with U.S. Cellular, including teams focused on user experience, acquisition and creation of an innovative content hub. Throughout more than 15 years of agency experience, Melissa has led award-winning work in the acquisition, retention and B2B spaces for clients including Emerson, Sprint, Intuit, Always and Tampax.
Frequency540 has hired veteran creative talent Melissa Healy as creative director
FQ540 CEO Andrew Swinand said: “Melissa creates work that truly connects with the individual and she's known for building strong, highly collaborative, happy teams. That matters greatly to us.” Healy touts the opportunity as a chance to help brands make meaningful connections by speaking from the heart. She added: “I chose Frequency540 because I respect them. Plain and simple. These are the people I want to create with.”
McCann Worldgroup
McCann Worldgroup has named Nannette LaFond-Dufour as chief client officer. LaFond-Dufour has been serving as President of the McCann Beauty Team, McCann's network of over 500 beauty specialists in 70+ markets that service L’Oréal Paris. She will continue to oversee L’Oréal as part of her expanded role. In her new role, she will oversee McCann’s worldwide accounts to coordinate resources and further develop integration across McCann Worldgroup’s disciplines, practices and regions to drive growth for the network’s global clients. She has worked in senior positions in New York, Chicago, Paris and Detroit. Her 25+ years of experience planning and executing global brand campaigns, includes Nestlé, Pepsi, Philips Electronics, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble.
McCann Worldgroup has named Nannette LaFond-Dufour as chief client officer
Harris Diamond, chairman and CEO at McCann Worldgroup said: “Through her leadership on our worldwide L’Oréal business and her extensive background across many brand categories, Nannette has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of global marketing. She will now apply this perspective and expertise to lead our experienced team of worldwide account leaders in leveraging our array of strategic, creative and multi platform capabilities to help our clients meet their growth goals.” LaFond-Dufour added: “Whatever the market or the category, global marketers need to leverage creative ideas based on insights that are smartly connected across disciplines and geographies. I am excited at the opportunity to extend my experience further across Worldgroup on behalf of our global brands and teams.”
Jack Morton Worldwide
Jack Morton Worldwide has announced the appointment of Adam Azor as the new SVP of integrated and digital marketing. Based in the agency’s London office, Adam will lead Jack Morton’s integrated and digital marketing teams, who work with leading brands including Freeview, Heineken and Beiersdorf. Adam joins the Jack Morton team from Beattie McGuinness Bungay where he was Head of Brand Experience. He began his career as co-founder of marketing agency Incognito Events in 1998 and went on to lead accounts at agencies including BD Network, Claydon Heeley and Mediator Communications. During his twenty years in the industry he has worked with many top brands including Coca Cola, Diageo, Virgin Media, Sony and Microsoft.
Jack Morton Worldwide has announced the appointment of Adam Azor as the new SVP of integrated and digital marketing
Azor said, “I’ve always admired Jack Morton’s ability to create work that both pushes creative boundaries and meets business objectives. I’m thrilled to be joining Jack and I look forward to creating extraordinary and memorable work with our clients.” Julian Pullan, vice chairman and president EMEA Jack Morton Worldwide,added: “I am delighted to have Adam on board. With his innovative thinking and passionate approach to work I know he will be a great addition to our team at Jack Morton. His expertise and experience will bring a depth of knowledge to our integrated and digital offerings that will be invaluable in propelling the innovative experiences we create even further forward.”
The Mill New York
The Mill New York has announced Angus Kneale as its first chief creative officer. Angus has, in turn, bolstered Mill NY’s award-winning creative team by promoting Ben Smith and Rama Allen to executive creative directors. As CCO, Angus will set the creative vision for the NY studio and continue to collaborate with clients that know The Mill for its expertise and passion for complex and ground-breaking work. Ben will be involved in overseeing all creative output from The Mill in NY and focus on Mill+ projects nurturing VFX artists, Designers, Editors and Directors working together to craft great work. Rama will help lead inventive project with clients, directing and making interactive and immersive experiences. He will also help build initiatives like Mill Lab to showcase interdisciplinary innovation across The Mill globally.
The Mill New York has announced Angus Kneale as its first chief creative officer
Heather Fullerton, MD of The Mill New York, said: “Angus has been the pivotal driving force in shaping our culture and creative output for many years. He inspires our talent and clients alike, championing flawless creative, constant experimentation and problem-solving across the ever broadening range of platforms and ways of telling stories. Keale adds: “Ben and Rama are both award-winning creatives, each with a unique talent and a common passion for pushing the boundaries of great work. Moving forward we will be working even more closely together, helping our clients to create impactful and powerful content.”
Happy Finish
Carl Davies has joined Happy Finish as its Global Chief Marketing Officer. He joins as the business aims to grow its cutting edge 360 cross platform production service and interactive virtual & augmented reality business. As CMO, Davies will oversee the company’s marketing strategy and is based in London. With deep experience leading marketing and strategic initiatives across complex technology portfolios, Davies will help place marketing at the heart of Happy Finish to drive a market leading reputation, support growth, and improve the performance of the company. Most recently, Davies served as Global Marketing Director at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence.
Carl Davies has joined Happy Finish as its Global Chief Marketing Officer
Simon Gosling, CEO of Happy Finish, said: “We are delighted to welcome Carl to Happy Finish. His extensive experience is well suited to leading our global marketing activities and communicating our creative and technical leadership to current and new audiences.” Davies added: “I am thrilled to join such an innovative and savvy production company. Happy Finish is leading the way with breakthrough 360 cross platform services and technologies that enable true production innovation for some of the most high profile brands across the world. I look forward to leading the global marketing team to help drive growth and shape the business of tomorrow.”
Kingsday
Rui Hupe has joined Kingsday to start work as a creative, focusing on digital design. Hupe is half Dutch and half Portuguese and is joining Kingsday from Amsterdam digital design studio De Franse Kamer, where he worked as an art director and designer for four years. He initially studied graphic design and typography, but has also added motion graphics, web programming, animation and concept development to his list of skills. He has worked for brands such as Heineken, Samsung and Microsoft and spends his spare time listening to electronic music and coming up with creative ideas (not necessarily in that order).
Rui Hupe has joined Kingsday to start work as a creative, focusing on digital design
Hupe said: “This may sound over the top, but every person I know in advertising in Amsterdam is a fan of Kingsday. They’re known as a challenger - a small agency putting out big agency work, without sacrificing creativity. Needless to say I’m pretty excited to start work here and look forward to making my mark.” Kingsday creative director Bram de Rooij added: “We are always looking out for young talented people with an unconventional approach to advertising. We met Rui Hupe at the Jonge Honden Portfolio Night and we instantly found common ground. His graphic and digital capabilities will be put to good use as we continue to grow Kingsday this year.”
Fake Love
Experiential design agency Fake Love recently tapped Omer Shapira as their new Lead VR Visualist. Shapira comes to Fake Love from Framestore, where he led projects for their VR software division. Previously he worked with The NYU Media Research Lab and the MIT Media Lab, and was a Filmmaker/VFX Artist at Channel 10. He specialises in blending programming, live-action film and experimental interaction technologies with real-time graphics, resulting in a highly unique visual experience.
Fake Love recently tapped Omer Shapira as their new Lead VR Visualist
Layne Braunstein, Co-Founder and ECD of Fake Love said: “Omer’s amazing skills with VR and game engines creates a fantastic compliment to our existing team. His Math and artistic background is going to help us create real-time visuals never seen before today in VR or really anywhere.”
IPG Mediabrands
After a 30-year career with Starcom Mediavest Group, chairman SMG Australia and director global experience product John Sintras will leave the network to take on a New York-based role with IPG Mediabrands from next year. Sintras is one of the industry’s most respected, innovative and awarded leaders as well as a widely recognised media figurehead. The chairman role in Australia will not be filled and Sintras’s global role will be taken up by US-based Kathy Kline, a current member of SMG’s Global Product Committee. Nolan will continue reporting into SMG president, Asia Pacific Mike Amour. Sintras’s departure date from SMG is yet to be announced.
John Sintras will leave Starcom Mediavest to take on a New York-based role with IPG Mediabrands
Sintras said: “It’s been a long and truly amazing journey with SMG in Australia and globally. I am enormously proud of the many milestones we have achieved together and I know that I leave the Australian business under the capable leadership of Chris Nolan and his executive team,” SMG Australia CEO Chris Nolan added: “John has achieved a great deal in his career at SMG, as a leader for our business, an ambassador within the industry and philanthropist for the community. He has made huge difference to my career and personally I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with John and count him as a colleague and friend.”
RAPP India
Kabir Ahmed, brand services director at Lowe, Mumbai has joined DDB Mudra Group as group director of brand communication at RAPP India. Backed with an experience of over nine years, Ahmed has worked for both, brand communication and creative execution for his clients. At RAPP India, Ahmed will report to Venkat Mallik, president, RAPP India and would be managing clients across the agency’s portfolio.
Kabir Ahmed has joined DDB Mudra Group as group director of brand communication at RAPP India
Ahmed said, “For me, it was to look at doing something different in advertising. At RAPP India, the true sense of 360 degree, including the digital exercise on a brand, approach to marketing communications and the sheer magnitude of work done for its clients excited me. I look forward to add value to these processes.” Venkat Mallikarjunan, president of RAPP India added: “It’s a truly exciting period of time when we need people with deep passion for the communications business supported with a high level of energy and versatility. Kabir brings in just the right blend of enthusiasm and experience for the period ahead.”
