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Hires of the Week

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Odysseus Arms

Independent ad agency Odysseus Arms welcomed Eric Dunn to the newly created role of Managing Director this week. He will be responsible for expanding the operation, refining client services and steering digital architecture. Dunn is a 15-year advertising and media executive with a broad range of brand and business development expertise across a variety of industries, including auto, hospitality, alcohol/spirits, luxury real estate and e-commerce. He joins from San Francisco-based ad agency Duncan/Channon, where he was most recently Group Account Director.

Independent ad agency Odysseus Arms welcomed Eric Dunn to the newly created role of Managing Director this week

“Our business has grown significantly over the past four years,” says Libby Brockhoff, Co-Founder of Odysseus Arms. “We’re adding new talent to our team as we partner with bigger businesses. We’re moving into more AOR relationships and are excited to have Eric on board to help establish the structure for the agency as we expand. Eric will help us continue to rewrite the ad agency rulebook,” adds Brockhoff. “We achieved the distinction of a Top 3 brand on Facebook (highest engagement across the entire platform) for Carlo Rossi using a new consumer listening technique. Eric will help us offer these proprietary services on a global scale.”

Pulse Communications

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Pulse Communications, part of Ogilvy PR Australia, announced the appointment of Jacqui Abbott as director earlier this week. Abbott brings 12 years of PR and social media experience to the agent, and arrives from Virgin Australia, where she served as senior public affairs manager.

 Abbott's role at Virgin Australia saw her oversee consumer and corporate public relations activities, internal communications and headed up the airline’s social media division. At Pulse, she'll be leading key client accounts including Netflix.



Pulse Communications announced the appointment of Jacqui Abbott as director earlier this week

The appointment complements the existing leadership team of Amanda Shannahan Moore, Brian Giesen, Rachel Byrne and Fred Chesher in supporting Richard Brett (Group Managing Director) as the agency continues to implement its new vision and strategic direction The team at Pulse has won a raft of new clients in the last year, including eBay, Netflix, Havaianas and Conga Foods. 

Pulse managing director Richard Brett said: “2014 was an incredibly successful year for Pulse. We saw significant growth and a doubling of staff numbers, and with the addition of Jacqui to our senior leadership team, we believe that the agency is in a very strong place to continue to grow into 2015.”

 

Beacon/Leo Burnett Tokyo

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Nicolas Menat, president, representative director for Beacon/Leo Burnett Tokyo, has announced the appointment of John Stampfel as digital and media director. 

In his new role, Stampfel will lead the agency’s digital and media strategy functions, which will include digital data strategy, online strategy as well as on and off-line media strategy. Stampfel started his career in New York City about 20 years ago at VMS, a leader in broadcast news monitoring. He relocated to Tokyo in 2002 and started working at Insentiv Media, then joined Proximity Japan/I&S BBDO in 2006, as senior account director for their international clients group, before joining MediaCom as digital interaction director in 2011, focusing on the agency’s P&G business at a time when all P&G media planning was just consolidated with the agency. He went on to join Gilt, the innovative online Japanese shopping destination, in 2014, and was a member of Gilt’s leadership team, looking after digital and media activities to boost consumers’ acquisition of the brand’s ecommerce site.

Nicolas Menat, president, representative director for Beacon/Leo Burnett Tokyo, has announced the appointment of John Stampfel as digital and media director



“As we continue to drive integration within our group, John’s well-rounded experience across media agency, creative agency and on the brand-side where he was the lead on media and digital activities, will enable him to bring a perspective and unique leadership to the structure that we need to take the agency forward,” said Menat.

 “Not to mention that John has worked in the USA as well as spent the last 12 years working in Japan, which is a very strong asset for helping us deliver on our commitment to bring the best of the East and West to our clients in Japan. I am thrilled to have him on board with us, and looking forward to working together to open new doors of opportunities for beacon,” he added.



 

DDB MudraMax

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Added to DDB MudraMax's robust leadership team is Kavita Sadana, who has joined the agency as Group Account Director. Kavita will be spearheading DDB MudraMax's Ahmedabad operations and businesses including experiential, media, outdoor and retail. Kavita joins DDB MudraMax with a rich experience of over two decades in the marketing communications fraternity. She comes with a multi-dimensional background of working across platforms and sectors with organisations from media publishing, entertainment and advertising functions. Her career scale has boomed from starting at Asian Age where she worked in the marketing team to heading the team at Freihert Mydia, Ahmedabad in her last stint. Her experience includes working at strong and innovative organisations like Radio City, Amagi Media Labs and Fun Multiplex Pvt. Ltd to name a few.

Kavita Sadana has joined DDB MudraMax as Group Account Director

On joining DDB MudraMax, Kavita said, “I am very proud to be associated with the agency and I look forward to working under the leadership of Sathyamurthy Namakkal and Mandeep Malhotra.” Mandeep Malhotra, President and Head, DDB MudraMax said, "It's great to have Kavita on board. Other than her experience, she brings a lot of joy and pride in working with great perseverance and professionalism. We are looking forward to her contribution in making Ahmedabad office a rocking and self-sustaining one.” Adding to this, Sathyamurthy Namakkal, President, DDB MudraMax-Media said “She is an excellent addition to the team and fortifies our team in the Gujarat market.”

 

McCann Worldgroup

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McCann Worldgroup has announced the appointment of Sean MacDonald as Chief Digital Officer. MacDonald joins from Ogilvy where he has been Managing Director, Emerging Ventures. MacDonald, who will be based in New York, succeeds Mike Parker who will be transitioning away from McCann opting to remain based in San Francisco. MacDonald has two decades of experience developing digital and engagement strategies for high profile companies. He joined Ogilvy as a senior digital strategist in 2004, and then rose to head the agency’s digital and engagement strategy areas and later their Ventures initiative. Over the years, he has held senior posts at a series of digitally-focused companies, building digital strategy teams and tools, and designing creative digital and social programs for clients in every major category, including such global marketers as Coca-Cola, American Express, DuPont, Nestlé, Cisco and BP.

McCann Worldgroup has announced the appointment of Sean MacDonald as Chief Digital Officer

“Sean’s strategic background as well as his ability to integrate new digital capabilities to facilitate the way consumers interact with brands will help our clients to fully take advantage of the spectrum of changes in the marketplace,” said Luca Lindner, President of McCann Worldgroup. “He has a deep understanding of the ways technology allows us to reach consumers, which will help us to accelerate our digital offering across our geographies and disciplines.” MacDonald added; “McCann is an exciting place, with vision and momentum and a culture that not only values collaboration but knows how to make it work on a global scale, across disciplines. I’m thrilled to be part of this team.”

 

Translation

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Translation has expanded its leadership roster with the addition of Executive Creative Director Betsy Decker, a gifted writer and team leader. Decker has earned accolades from numerous industry awards bodies throughout her career, including top honours at the One Show, Art Directors Club, ANDYs, and Epica Awards. At Translation, she will put her award-winning abilities to work partnering with Chief Creative Officer John Norman in the oversight of the agency’s creative output. Prior to joining Translation, Decker served as an ECD for global creative services firm Sid Lee, playing a key role in the launch of its NYC office. From 2007 to 2010, Decker acted as an Associate Creative Director and Copywriter at Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam, where she first worked with Translation CCO John Norman. Before joining W+K Amsterdam, she spent time at 72andSunny—where she launched the popular DC Girls brand—and at TBWA\Chiat\Day.

Translation has expanded its leadership roster with the addition of Executive Creative Director Betsy Decker

“Betsy never gives up on the creative and persists with a real-deal Philly-style work ethic, while fostering a collaborative environment with her teams,” says Norman. “She also has a knack for maintaining and building client relationships. Having partnered with Betsy in the past, I find that she brings a writer’s perspective to my work, which is something that will translate across the agency. From an executive standpoint, she can take on volumes of work, switching gears from one thing to the next seamlessly, and she’s generally fun to be around.” Translation Founder and CEO Steve Stoute, adds; “Betsy is a seasoned leader and a master storyteller—two qualities that make her an exceptional ECD. Her first project in the new role found her leveraging a lifelong passion for sports to help win the NBA account, a marquee victory for the independent agency.”

 

FCB Garfinkel

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FCB Garfinkel has announced that Eric Cosper has joined the agency as chief creative officer. In his new role, Cosper will oversee and lead the creative department for clients such as Vonage, FDA, SeaWorld, Jamaica Tourist Board, Amtrak, Beiersdorf and Nestlé Waters and will report directly to CEO Lee Garfinkel. Prior to joining FCB Garfinkel, Cosper has spent the last year developing the Game of War franchise, with his creative efforts culminating in a 2015 Super Bowl ad featuring Kate Upton. Over his nearly 20-year career, he’s spent time at BBDO, Weiden + Kennedy, Mother, Publicis and Fallon.

FCB Garfinkel announced this week that Eric Cosper has joined the agency as chief creative officer

“After a long and in-depth search, Kofi (Amoo-Gottfried, CSO) and I found in Eric the creative partner we were looking for: strong creative leadership, diversity of client experience, versatility of his creative work, and a strong belief that the only way to move clients’ businesses is through changing consumers’ behaviours,” said Lee Garfinkel, CEO of FCB Garfinkel. “From my first meeting with Lee and Kofi, FCB Garfinkel felt more like a start-up than a traditional agency,” said Cosper. “Being in a start-up that is part of a strong agency network, you have the freedom to be more agile, innovative and flexible to deliver any type of communications solutions to your clients. That’s the kind of inspirational environment I wanted to be a part of.”

 

JWT Saudi Arabia

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JWT has announced the key appointment of Camille Haddad to CEO for the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia, effective immediately. Both Riyadh and Jeddah offices will be reporting into Haddad. The promotion will see Haddad remain based in Riyadh and continue to report in directly to Vatche Keverian, J. Walter Thompson MENA’s CEO. Prior to the appointment, Haddad successfully led the Riyadh team as Managing Director for 8 years, securing numerous important business wins, such as the prestigious Saudi Telecom Company (STC) account. A seasoned communications professional, he has managed an impressive array of global and regional brands, across geographies and industry categories, including though not limited to Unilever, Jaguar, Ford, Diageo, Nestle, HSBC, Rolex, Carrier and Oger Telecom.

JWT has announced the key appointment of Camille Haddad to CEO for the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia

Commenting on Haddad’s appointment, JWT MENA CEO, Vatche Keverian, saluted “An exemplary leader, 23 year home grown talent, the complete brand communications expert who contributed to setting J. Walter Thompson as the gold standard of advertising in the kingdom” adding that “the strategic value of the Saudi market goes naturally in pair with having our top talent at the helm to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve, by constantly delivering pioneering solutions to our clients, at a time when marketing communications is being reinvented every day.”

 

Isobel

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Isobel has announced the appointment of John Hobson as its new Head of Content. Hobson arrives at Isobel via The&Partnership where he was a director leading key client accounts, including Virgin Money, on content, strategy and social. Prior to his time at The&Partnership, Hobson was digital director at creative communications agency Splendid where he picked up the best digital campaign award at the PRCA’s for his work with Marmite.

Isobel has announced the appointment of John Hobson as its new Head of Content

Commenting on his new role, Hobson says: “What attracted me to Isobel was the shared belief that the best work and value for our clients comes from one team, fluent in all the platforms and happy to build ideas around them from takeoff.” Paul Houlding, Managing Partner at Isobel says: “Our mission is to help build a client’s brand in whatever channels are most appropriate. And we can only do this if we have the best brains around the table. John has one of the most interesting and varied backgrounds in content having started over a decade ago with ITN and I can’t think of a better person to develop our offer going forward.”

 

Cummins & Partners

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Cummins & Partners continues to build its executive team with the appointment of Tom Ward as managing director of the Melbourne office.

 Ward joins from Naked Communications and brings a unique and diverse skill set developed in roles including head of strategy and insight at GPYR and account management at Clemenger, TBWA London and St Lukes.



Cummins & Partners has appointed Tom Ward as managing director of the Melbourne office

“In our rapidly-changing industry, Ward’s experience at some of the best agencies in the world is highly valued. He's strategically-minded, creatively-driven, and will be a great fit with our business,” said Chris Jeffares, national CEO at Cummins&Partners. 
 

Ward added: “I’ve worked with a few members of the leadership team at Cummins&Partners and jumped at the chance to work with them again. “They are elite talent, with a great ‘joined up’ business model, and have blazed a trail in the last few years. I’m looking forward to help lead the charge as we move into the next stage. I can't wait to get cracking.”

 

Core

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Independent advertising agency Core has added copywriter Anthony Ortuso and art director Jari Kennedy after its recent appointment by Sydney Airport, insurance giant QBE and cosmetic brand Ella Baché.
 Creative team Ortuso and Kennedy are both graduates of Award School and before joining Core worked at VCCP and Circul8, among other agencies. The duo picked up a number of accolades, including a recent Webby nomination, for an Amnesty International Tinder campaign. Joining them is account executive Lucy Almond who comes from UK agency Bray Leino. She will be working on the QBE and Sydney Airport accounts. The final addition is project manager Kristy Albers, who will help manage the agency’s workflow, creative resources and material delivery.


Independent advertising agency Core has hired copywriter Anthony Ortuso, art director Jari Kennedy, account executive Lucy Almond and project manager Kristy Albers

Christian Finucane, creative partner at Core said: “We’re growing as an agency and we need talented people to help us manage that as well as delivering results for our clients. Anthony and Jari are up-and-coming creative stars who demonstrated in our recent Sydney Airport pitch they can deliver attention-grabbing campaigns. Lucy and Kristy will bolster our account management team and ensure everything continues to run smoothly as we scale up. It’s exciting times at Core and we welcome them.”


 

Havas Media Singapore

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Havas Media Singapore has announced the appointment of Russell Lai as executive director. In his new role, Lai will be responsible for leading integrated media solutions, strategic client management and new business. He will report in to Jacqui Lim, managing director and chief client officer of Havas Media Singapore. He joins the agency with 15 years of media planning and client management experience, spanning international and local agencies in Singapore and Hong Kong. Lai has a list of accolades that includes a Grand Prix at Singapore Media Awards in 2014 with the Red Cross Society's "The Red Cross Connection" programme. In addition, he has won a total of 7 Effies and was voted "25 Rising Stars Under 35" by Marketing Magazine in 2009.

Havas Media Singapore has announced the appointment of Russell Lai as executive director


Commenting on his appointment, Lim said: “Russell has a very impressive track record in the media space having worked with several blue chip brands and managing large and complex multi market clients. We are very excited to have him on board to augment our client offerings in the market and have no doubt that he will prove to be a big asset for the agency as well as our clients.”

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