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Hires of the Week

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18 Feet & Rising

18 Feet & Rising bolsters its management line up by bringing in Brad Fairhead as partner, with a remit to further build 18 Feet & Rising’s work in the more progressive areas of communications. Fairhead has 20 years experience in the industry, having worked within the media, creative and digital agency environment. Most recently he was Managing Director of Hypernaked, the business formed out of a merger between Naked Communications and the digital agency Hyper that Fairhead founded in 2007. Fairhead’s hire is a direct response to the success of recent campaigns at 18 Feet & Rising.

18 Feet & Rising bolsters its management line up by bringing in Brad Fairhead as partner

Fairhead comments: “There are very few agencies that could tempt me back into the comms world and 18 Feet & Rising is one of them. I’ve worked with Jonathan and Matt before and I’m stoked about being able to do so again. They do the sort of work I love and have the ambition that our market needs.” Jonathan Trimble, Chief Executive Officer says: “By any standard, Brad is one of the industry's greatest practitioners. I'm excited to see where he takes our platform.”

 

DDB Canada

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DDB Canada has announced three new, strategic appointments in its Vancouver and Toronto offices. DDB veterans Patty Jones and Michelle Kitchen have been promoted to EVP, co-managing directors of DDB Canada Vancouver, and Melanie Johnston has been promoted to president of DDB Canada Toronto. Jones has been with DDB Canada Vancouver for 15 years, and Kitchen has a combined 16 years in both the Toronto and Vancouver offices. Johnston has been with DDB Canada for over a decade and has held numerous titles including group account director, client services director and since 2010 SVP, managing director of the Toronto office. As president, she will be responsible for people development, creative product, revenue growth, and overall stewardship of the Toronto agency.

DDB Canada has announced three new, strategic appointments in its Vancouver and Toronto offices

Lance Saunders, who was recently appointed as DDB Canada's national president and chief operating officer, said: “Patty and Michelle are two passionate leaders, each with their own unique complementary skills; together, this duo will excel at the helm of our Vancouver office,” explains Saunders. "Our Toronto office has also experienced exponential growth, and Melanie has played an instrumental role in that context; under her leadership, I know the Toronto office will continue to flourish and push new boundaries.” Frank Palmer, chairman and CEO, DDB Canada, adds: “DDB Canada is proud to advance gender equality in the workplace. We hire and promote our people based on individual talent and merit, and in each of these cases the best person for the job just happened to be a woman.”

 

Publicis Chemistry

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Publicis Chemistry has hired Emma Rush, the former chief executive of direct marketing agency TBCH (formerly Claydon Healey) of RAPP Group, as its head of client services. Rush will be responsible for all aspects of client services including running the agency's accounts, which include EE, Barratt's, Royal Mail and Gatwick Airport. She joins from TBCH where she successfully managed its merger into RAPP Group, developed its new business pipeline and led multiple pitch wins.

Publicis Chemistry has hired Emma Rush as its head of client services

Guy Wieynk, CEO for Publicis UK & Nordics said: “At Publicis UK, our ecosystem of agencies continuously drive change leadership for our clients. Emma will be pivotal in elevating Chemistry's specialist one-to-one communications offering.” Rush herself adds: “This is a transformational moment for Publicis Chemistry with Guy Wieynk leading Publicis UK. The combination of Chemistry's one to one expertise and the collaboration with Publicis London, Poke and Blueprint makes this an exciting and unique opportunity. As Client Services Director I will be responsible for delivering great work that makes a real difference to our clients' business.”

 

Grey Group Singapore

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The Grey Group has promoted Subbaraju Alluri to the role of area director and CEO for Singapore and Thailand. Alluri's leadership qualities and stellar performance prompted a move to head Grey Group Singapore’s local operations in 2005, transforming the agency into the country’s fastest-growing creative outfit within a year. Nirvik Singh, chairman & CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific, said: “Raju’s aptitude and contribution has been invaluable. I am sure with his leadership and vision, he will transform Grey Group Thailand into becoming the agency of choice.” Alluri adds: “ It is truly an honour to be given the opportunity to lead the Thailand team, as well. I am looking forward to taking the agency to new and greater heights.”

 

BBDO Düsseldorf

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BBDO Düsseldorf is strengthening again its digital and creative competences with the addition of a prominent new recruit: Andy Wyeth, who will be taking up the post of Creative Director from May 1, 2015 onward. Wyeth combines excellent digital expertise with creative design and strategy know-how. A native of New Zealand, he is joining BBDO from the Düsseldorf-based agency Parasol Island, where he has been Lead Creative Interactive for the past four years, engaged in the creative management of film, animation and digital communications for clients such as Barmer GEK, toom, Jeep and the Rewe Group. His previous employers included the M&C Saatchi and Scholz & Friends agencies in Berlin.

BBDO Düsseldorf has appointed Andy Wyeth as Creative Director

Among other responsibilities, Andy Wyeth has been in charge of the national development and implementation of digital strategies and the adaptation of international campaigns in Europe. He began his professional career with TBWA/WHYBIN in New Zealand, working for such clients as Absolut Vodka, Adidas, Apple, Playstation and Westfield. As Darren Richardson, Chief Creative Officer at BBDO Düsseldorf, explains: “Andy brings with him years of digital experience working in well-known hot-shop agencies. Having him on board with make us more agile and strengthen our role as the most creative agency network in Germany.”

 

FCB West

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After creatively overseeing the Ford Motor Company account at Blue Hive in Europe, steering the agency and client through a period of rapid growth and innovation, Karin Onsager-Birch is returning to the U.S. for the chief creative officer role at FCB West. Onsager-Birch, most recently CCO of WPP’s Blue Hive in London, where she oversaw the historic launch of the Ford Mustang in Europe and helped grow the Central European office from 80 to 225 people. She will start this summer, partnering with FCB West CEO Dominic Whittles. Onsager-Birch assumes a role vacant since September of 2014.

Karin Onsager-Birch is returning to the U.S for the chief creative officer role at FCB West

Onsager-Birch is an award-winning creative whom Whittles brands a “True collaborator, open-minded and ambitious. Karin is entrepreneurial in thinking and a highly intelligent problem solver.” He adds: “She’s an extraordinary connector with clients and possesses both skill and grace. I’m overjoyed that she is joining FCB West as my partner.” Onsager-Birch said: “From my vantage point in London, I’ve watched the incredible momentum FCB is going through globally under Worldwide CEO Carter Murray’s leadership and I’m thrilled to join the network at such a critical time. The diversity and juicy potential of FCB West’s terrific bouquet of clients makes this even more exciting. Combine that with San Francisco being THE powerhouse of innovation AND my favourite city in the world, and it is the perfect storm of an opportunity.”

 

Nice Biscuits

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Nice Biscuits is pleased to welcome Hayley Irow as its new Senior Producer. Hayley began her career in advertising as a receptionist in January 1995 at RKCR. She soon worked her way up to TV Production assistant/junior producer undertaking projects for brands such as Virgin Atlantic, The Times, The Sunday Times and Miller Pilsner. It was whilst at RKCR Hayley first worked with a young, enthusiastic Flame operator by the name of Russell Shaw! In 1999 Hayley moved to start up agency Mother where she stayed for 5 years producing jobs for Orange Goldspot, The Observer, Supernoodles, Organics, Selfridges and ITV Digital. Several of these commercials won Aerial, Creative Circle, Cannes Lions and D&AD awards as well as a BTAA Gold for a QTV campaign starring actor Martin Freeman.

 

Geometry Global

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Katie O’Callaghan has been appointed as Regional Talent Director for Asia Pacific (APAC) at Geometry Global. 

As regional talent director, she will be working closely with the APAC management team to drive the people agenda across the region, reporting to John Goodman, chief executive for Asia Pacific and Simon Heath, global chief talent officer.

 Prior to taking up this role, O’Callaghan was responsible for creating and leading the HR function at UK digital, broadcasting and publishing group, ESI Media. She also previously worked for its sister company DMG Media and has held senior HR roles in the financial and professional services sectors.

Katie O’Callaghan has been appointed as Regional Talent Director for Asia Pacific (APAC) at Geometry Global



John Goodman, chief executive for Asia Pacific at Geometry Global, said: “I am delighted to have Katie on board. She is a vastly experienced HR professional who will be a major asset as we continue to grow in Asia Pacific.Katie will lead a more systematic and structured approach to talent development, performance management and recruitment.” 

Commenting on the issue of talent in Asia, O’Callaghan said: “It is imperative that we not only attract and recruit exceptional individuals, but also nurture and develop our current talent pool. By creating an environment where individuals can thrive and forge longstanding careers with us, we are aiming to build a leadership pipeline for the future. In summary, I want Geometry Global to be the employer of choice for the best talent in the region.”

 

Organic

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Digital marketing agency, Organic Inc has announced the promotion of Chris Kelly to Chief Creative Officer. Previously serving as Executive Creative Director in New York, Kelly will now report directly to CEO David Shulman and be responsible for driving the creative vision for the agency across offices in New York, San Francisco, Detroit and Atlanta. Prior to Organic, Kelly was Creative Director at Wunderman, leading accounts including Citibank, Dell, Kodak, Land Rover and Nokia. He also spent a decade at Ignition13 where he led creative output for Converse, Estée Lauder, Guinness, Motorola, Smirnoff and Sony.

Digital marketing agency, Organic Inc has announced the promotion of Chris Kelly to Chief Creative Officer

Shulman said: “Chris is an exceptional talent who brings creative horsepower combined with a leadership style that inspires our teams and clients to do amazing work. He has driven tremendous impact over the last three years. In his new role as Chief Creative, I look forward to partnering with him to drive Organic’s future.” Kelly himself adds: “I’m thrilled to take on the position of CCO. Organic has been a pioneer in the digital space for the past 21 years. I welcome the challenge of continuing our legacy of producing killer work, while helping to redefine how we approach digital in the years to come.”

 

Havas Worldwide Chicago

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Havas Worldwide Chicago has named Chuck Anderson of NoPattern Studio as its Creative Director of Design. In this role, he will help set the design vision for the agency, infuse a sense of craft into client work, and mentor young design talent. Anderson is a popular Chicago-based artist, designer, photographer and founder of NoPattern Studio, which he started in 2004 at the age of 18. Despite forgoing college and having no formal experience, Anderson’s unique aesthetic and rigorous self-training secured him design projects for such clients as ESPN, Complex and Nylon. From there, his portfolio and client list expanded, resulting in vivid, colourful collaborations with brands such as Burton, Absolut, Nike, Google, Mountain Dew, McDonalds, Microsoft, Target, Honda, Vans, GQ and Wall Street Journal, among others. He was named a Design Icon by Computer Arts Magazine and has spoken at dozens of schools and design conferences around the world.

 

FCB Inferno

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FCB Inferno Chief Creative Officer, Al Young, has announced that the agency’s Executive Creative Director, Owen Lee, will now partner with him as creative head. Having held the title at Inferno independently since 2010, and since Draftfcb and Inferno merged in December 2013, Al’s announcement to share his role of Chief Creative Officer is reflective of the expansion seen at FCB Inferno in the last year. Owen Lee and Gary Robinson founded Farm Communications in 1999, and have been joint ECDs at Inferno since they moved the business there in 2012. Gary will maintain his title of Executive Creative Director, acting as creative lead for global clients.

Executive Creative Director Owen Lee, will now partner with CCO Al Young as creative head at FCB Inferno

Al Young, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Inferno said: “We are bigger and more complicated now - and this restructure has been on my mind for a while. I’ve never been precious about running the train set on my own and I’ve always admired successful creative twin-leadership models. As for us working well together, I’ve known Owen 15 years and worked closely with him in two different agencies. This is about efficiency and enhancing our already much-improved creative output.” Lee adds: “The agency and the FCB network are in a hugely exciting place at the moment. We have some great clients and great people. Gary and I have always found Al brilliant to work for and with, and this new structure will allow us to grow more effectively and bring the best out of our talent.”

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