McCann NY
McCann New York chief strategy officer Steve Zaroff, has been promoted to the additional post of managing director, effective immediately. Zaroff joined McCann as CSO in 2012 to oversee the strategic direction of the agency's clients, and is credited with building a market-leading strategic capability for the agency. He was also a critical part of the team responsible for McCann's 2014 new business drive.
McCann New York's Steve Zaroff has been promoted to the additional post of managing director
Chris Macdonald, president of McCann New York, said that Zaroff's promotion “Reflects the impact of his strategic contribution to the agency's growth and the need for deep management bench strength to guide it.” He adds that Zaroff is “Adding management lead responsibilities on some important client businesses in addition to being a strategic partner on the direction of the agency going forward.” Zaroff himself, said it is “An exciting and dynamic moment to be in this business,” and that he is “Delighted to continue to contribute to the success of McCann.”
Bluemarlin
Bluemarlin has appointed Mark Gandy global brand director, meaning he will work closely with the members of the executive team, and be responsible for providing vision and direction to grow Bluemarlin as a leading brand design consultancy worldwide. Gandy brings 25 years of industry experience to the role, including roles as MD at JKR and Brandhouse. He's also worked with some of the world’s most prominent companies including Unilever, P&G, Kraft, Diageo and Mars, and has led his teams to secure many of the industry's top awards.
Bluemarlin has appointed Mark Gandy global brand director
Bluemarlin co-founder and CEO Andrew Eyles, said Gandy “Has a solid track-record of driving creative and commercial brilliance.” With his strong leadership and knowledge of the industry, he's confident his appointment will “Help unify brand-building activities and provide clients with the best possible experience” Gandy is “Very much looking forward to championing Bluemarlin as an international agency known for braver creative solutions.” He thinks they have a “Compelling message” for their clients, and is looking forward to “Raising the brand to the next level” with them.
Pereira & O'Dell
Pereira & O’Dell named Jonathan Woytek as executive creative director earlier this week. He'll oversee the agency's creative product on the west coast of the US, which includes clients such as Skype, Intel, Coca-Cola Latin America and Ad Council. Woytek joined Pereira & O’Dell in 2010, and has spearheaded an incredibly diverse range of award-winning campaigns. He was named “One of the 30 Most Creative People in Mobile Advertising” by Business Insider and his Skype ad, “The Born Friends Family Portrait,” was named #4 on TIME’s list of “Top Ten Commercials.” His work has earned accolades from Cannes Lions, Webbys, Effies, One Show, Digiday and Communication Arts. He also recently served on the interactive jury of the 2014 Clio Awards.
Pereira & O’Dell named Jonathan Woytek as executive creative director
Pereira & O’Dell CCO and co-founder, said that “From day one, Jonathan has been creating amazing work at Pereira & O’Dell.” He says that all of the new ECD's work is infused with “A deep sense of humanity which spans from beverages to technology,” something he admits is “Not an easy task,” especially in this business! He adds that Woytek is “Patient when caught in the middle of idea adrenaline, but will push as hard as he can when his team is on to something great,” and believes that he'll be a catalyst in helping their clients’ address “What their brand is passionate about.”
MEC
Leading media agency MEC has named Lars Magnus Kirschke CEO of MEC Germany. Lars will MEC at the beginning of April, where he will succeed Matthias Brüll, who is stepping up to lead GroupM in Germany. MEC Germany has had a solid few years under Matthias’ leadership with significant wins in the last 12 months including accounts for Vodafone, Netflix, Momondo and Tiffany & Co. MEC chief operating officer for the EMEA region, Alastair Aird said, “MEC in Germany is a brilliant agency with an incredibly strong and successful management team.” He adds that Kirschke brings “Valuable digital experience and broad knowledge of the media industry to MEC” alongside his “Robust management experience.” Kirschke believes he is joining MEC at an exciting time, and believes the agency has “The talent, the culture and the organisation it takes to deliver true growth to clients in the transforming media landscape.”
BBH LA
BBH Los Angeles added two new creative minds to the agency this week in the shape of Peter Albores and Kristian Grove Mollor, who join the team as creative director and associate creative director respectively. Both appointments are effective immediately, and both will work across all LA clients and assist in new business. Albores joins BBH from BBDO, New York, where he has held the role of creative director/copywriter since 2010. Whilst there, he played an influential role in the “Anti-Texting” initiative, which brought together the four major American telecom carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile) for the first time ever and included the award-winning Werner Herzog documentary “From One Second to the Next,” which received over two million earned hits within days of its post. He's also held positions at 180 in Amsterdam, Saatchi & Saatchi in New York, and Goodby Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco. Grove Mollor, meanwhile, spent three years at David & Goliath, where he spent the majority of his time with their KIA client, and has also freelanced for agencies such as Sid Lee, Naked and In2Media.
BBH Los Angeles added two new creative minds to the agency this week
Pelle Sjoenell, executive creative director of BBH LA, said it's been a big few months for the agency as they've ”Ramped up new business; launched production company The Creative Studio with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects; and even launched a West Coast outpost of brand invention business, ZAG.” He says the agency is “Changing and growing quickly, so the need for more creative talent with the guts to tackle innovative and all-in briefs was critical.” Both new hires, he feels, “Represent the bold spirit BBH looks for,” and he adds that their bodies of work “Demonstrate a bravery in their creative approach that will make them perfect additions” to the LA team.
