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Hires of the Week

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GSD&M

Texan agency GSD&M has announced the appointment of husband and wife team Kris and Alisa Wixom as group creative directors, effective immediately. The 7-time Cannes Lions winners who have worked together for 16 years in “A harmonious union of marriage, creativity and hair products,” will bring their creative chops to the agency's enviable roster of Fortune 500 clients. They join GSD&M from TBWA Chiat\Day New York, where they worked as global creative directors on award-winning campaigns for brands such as Absolut Vodka, Skittles and Jameson Whiskey. They started their careers at Lyon Advertising in Austin and also held stints at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Fallon Minneapolis and BBH New York. Accolades, meanwhile, have come thick and fast for the duo, with trophies in their cabinet from Cannes Lions, D&AD, Effie, and even the Emmy Awards!

GSD&M has appointed Kris and Alisa Wixom as group creative directors

The duo will be leading creative teams across the agency's entire client base, and will report directly to CCO Jay Russell. Russell said GSD&M “Never miss the opportunity to bring amazing talent on board,” and calls the couple an “Energetic, super-smart team with an incredible history of creating memorable work on every account they’ve touched.” He has no doubt that they will “Inspire their teams to develop truly impactful creative.” Kris Wixom said he and his wife were “Drawn to GSD&M’s unstoppable momentum” and he looks forward to “Delivering unique creative work for their clients.” His wife Alisa adds that they are “Excited to dive in at the agency and become part of the quickly-growing community.”

 

CHI&Partners

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Micky Tudor has been promoted to the role of deputy executive creative director at CHI&Partners after almost 13 years at the agency, marking the crux of a 19-year career that has seen him claim 12 BTAA Arrows, eight One Show Pencils, six Cannes Lions, two Revolution Gold Awards and a D&AD pencil. Memorable moments from his illustrious career in advertising include the creation of the 2005 Tango spot, “Bravo,” leading TalkTalk's sponsorship of The X Factor, and taking the creative lead on Lexus’ multi-award-winning “Amazing in Motion” films. Previously working at Lowe, Tudor also worked on Reebok’s infamous Belly campaign back in 2000. At CHI&Partners, Tudor has created award-winning work for The Daily Telegraph, Heineken, Tango, TalkTalk, The Times, The Sunday Times, Drench, Anchor, Lexus and Samsung.

Micky Tudor has been promoted to the role of deputy ECD at CHI&Partners

In his new role Tudor will be overseeing creative output from all of the agency's clients, and helping to cultivate the agency’s world-class reputation. He'll work with fellow deputy ECD Jim Bolton and will report directly to ECD Jonathan Burley. Burley said the agency are “Delighted to promote Micky to the role of Deputy Executive Creative Director,” and calls Tudor one of the shop's “Most talented creatives and creative directors.” He adds that “There is not a finer person” he can think of “To work alongside Jim Bolton and help lead the charge to deliver game-changing creativity” for CHI&Partners' clients. Tudor himself said that 2015 is “An exciting time for advertising as a whole” and for him personally. He praises both Bolton and Burley, who he says “Have been responsible for some of the country’s most famous work,” and gushes that he is “Extremely proud to have been asked to join them in helping shape the creative future at CHI&Partners.”

 

Gyro Manchester

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Global ideas shop Gyro has appointed a new head of planning for its Manchester office in the shape of Martin Tapley, former senior audience planner for the BBC's Marketing and Audiences department. In his new role he'll be responsible for uncovering insights that will allow the agency's clients to reach their customers in the most effective and relevant manner. At the BBC, Tapley defined the positioning of the FA Cup, reworked the 5 Live Schedule and oversaw numerous research projects to understand media literacy and digital participation in the UK. The outdoor enthusiast cut his teeth at TBWA/Manchester, where he worked on major account like BP, Brother and Nissan. The shop also welcomes Catherine Hankinson as digital project and traffic manager and Sabrina Drummond as office manager. Prior to gyro, Hankinson worked at CTI Digital. Drummond joined from DP Data Systems.

Gyro has appointed Martin Tapley as head of planning for its Manchester office

Gyro Manchester's managing director Danny Turnbull, said that Tapley “Joins an existing team of three planners” and gives them “An important new skill set regarding content and behavioural economics.” He added that the agency specialises in “Making complex things simple, which is a complex task,” but a task not beyond the reach of such a skilled man. Tapley himself said that he feels “A real feeling of positivity and energy at Gyro Manchester that is reflected in the work and pace of new business wins.” He praises the network's ethos of “Putting human relevance at the heart of a brand’s communications,” which is something that's crucial to him. He believes he is “Fortunate to be heading up a team of highly motivated planners with incredible depth of experience and skills,” and he “Can’t wait to help build on their already sterling reputation.”

 

Deutsch LA

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Deutsch LA has hired Duncan Houldsworth as EVP, executive director of data strategy. He officially joined the agency on January 26, and is reporting to 20-year agency veteran and partner Kyle Acquistapace. He'll be leading the agency's data strategy and analytics team, working across all clients on its roster, which includes such blue-chip names as Sprint, VW, and Taco Bell. He brings with him over 18 years of experience on both sides of the Atlantic, working for companies such as Experian, IRI and Omnicom. Prior to Deutsch, he worked as a market research and strategic insights consultant, working with Fortune 100 companies in financial services, media, and telecommunications, and before that, he spent three years as vice president of marketing insights at Time Warner Cable.

Deutsch LA has hired Duncan Houldsworth as EVP, executive director of data strategy

Acquistapace said that Houldsworth is “Incredibly unique among analytics people,” with a background which spans from “Hard-core modelling and business intelligence to more general market research.” He calls Houldsworth a unique talent that has “An amazingly broad view of the business,” and yet can “Also get under the hood of advanced analytics.” The man himself, adds that “Deutsch is one of the leading full-service agencies in North America,” and he's “Excited to work with the amazing client roster and first-class agency team” to take “Advanced analytics and data capabilities to the next level during a time of such momentum.”

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