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Top 10 Hires of the Week

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MEC

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MEC has promoted Marc Pearson to the newly created role of managing director of its Performance division, Jason Dormieux, the agency’s joint CEO announced today. His promotion reflects a doubling in size of MEC Performance across both its Planning and Activation teams in the last two years. This has come on the back of new business wins such as Comparethemarket.com and growth from existing clients such as HomeServe and MBNA. The division’s expansion also responds to a rise in the use of econometrics and data-driven insights to inform not just direct response activity but brand campaigns that drive business and marketing transformation for clients. Marc joined MEC in 2008 as client service director. Since then he has held a number of senior roles, including head of interaction before being promoted to managing partner of Performance in 2010. Prior to joining MEC he gained digital media experience both and Zed Media, and then Media Contacts, running a number of leading digital clients including Thomson Holidays, Hewlett Packard and British Airways. He started his career in the direct sector at Evans Hunt Scott, now Havas Helia.

MEC has promoted Marc Pearson to the newly created role of managing director of its Performance division

Dormieux said: “The last four years have been incredibly successful for MEC’s Performance Planning and Activation business. Wins such as BGL Group, as well as re-pitching for and growing existing business for HomeServe and MBNA are a testament to Marc’s leadership. The new e-commerce business illustrates his deep understanding of what drives profits for our clients.” Pearson, added: “Clients are increasingly asking us to improve the efficiency of their marketing budgets. MEC’s unique approach to performance, which brings econometrics and different data sources in at the beginning of briefs, allows us to identify which channels will work best together to drive better business outcomes.”

BBDO New York

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BBDO New York announced this week that industry veteran Tina Allan would be joining the agency in the newly created role of EVP, Director of Data Solutions. Allan’s goal will be to take fuller advantage of all the analytical tools available at BBDO and elevate its existing partnership with Annalect, Omnicom’s marketing technology platform, to augment what the agency already offers. A 20-year veteran of RAPP, Allan helped lead the organisation through changes across many of its core data-driven capabilities and disciplines. She worked closely with clients like American Family Insurance, HP, Pfizer and Time Warner Cable, and across sectors such as healthcare, automotive, B-to-B and retail, helping to deliver consistent, meaningful results driven by precision, purpose and aptly applied analytics. Among her roles were Chief of Creative Services, Chief of Client Operations, Managing Director and, most recently, Chief Client Officer.

BBDO New York announced this week that industry veteran Tina Allan would be joining the agency in the newly created role of EVP, Director of Data Solutions

John Osborn, President and CEO at BBDO New York, said: “We all know that, used smartly, data can help inform the creative product: what’s working, what’s not, in real-time and throughout the creative process. The problem is – it can be overwhelming. Tina is someone who focuses on marrying logic and magic to drive clients’ businesses forward. She makes the complex simple. She is a connector, an accelerator. As Chief Client Officer at RAPP, she worked with a number of current BBDO clients and knows about greater collaboration for better outcomes for our clients. She’s also a really really good person, which makes her doubly perfect for this new role.” Allan added: “I think BBDO is at a tipping point: The work is already great. Now, we have a chance to empower the teams at BBDO to do what they do easier, smarter and faster. I am excited to be a part of those teams.”

McCann Stockholm

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Adam Kerj, a creative star in the U.S. and Europe, has been named Chief Creative Officer of McCann Worldgroup’s Nordic agencies and will be based out of McCann Stockholm. Kerj will serve as Chief Creative Officer for McCann in the Nordic region. He will work from the agency in Stockholm, since Sweden is the largest market in the region. He most recently served as CCO of JWT New York, a post he has held since 2014. Prior to JWT NY, Kerj served at 360i New York as their first US CCO. Before that role, he was ECD and founding partner at Saatchi & Saatchi Sweden, which was named ”Agency of the Year” twice. Prior to Saatchi, Kerj was ECD and founding Partner of TBWA Sweden.

Adam Kerj has been named Chief Creative Officer of McCann Worldgroup’s Nordic agencies and will be based out of McCann Stockholm

In addition to the awards he won for Saatchi & Saatchi and TWBA Sweden, Kerj help lead 360i to multiple Digital Agency of the Year Awards and groundbreaking digital & social work for Game of Thrones, Oreo and Oscar Mayer. Kerj has won over 100 international awards, including Grand Prix and several Gold in Cannes as well as Effies, One Show, Clios, Webbys and many others. He has been named to many A-Lists for Creatives. Rob Reilly, global creative chairman of McCann Worldgroup, said: “Talent is everything. And when you have the opportunity to bring back somebody as skilled as Adam to one of the most creative regions in the world, you sure as hell take it.”

TBWA\Chiat\Day LA

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TBWA\Chiat\Day LA has announced Linda Knight as Executive Creative Director. Knight will be working across several agency accounts including Miller Lite, and will join fellow agency ECD's Fabio Costa and Brent Anderson in reporting to Chief Creative Officer Stephen Butler. She began her career in Australia before being hired by Wieden+Kennedy, where she spent almost a decade working in both the Portland and Amsterdam offices prior to starting her freelance career. As a freelance writer and creative director, she has worked with a host of top-tier agencies, including R/GA, TBWA\Chiat\Day, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi and CAA, and in several different countries including Australia, Europe, Japan, China, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, U.K. and the US.

TBWA\Chiat\Day LA has announced Linda Knight as Executive Creative Director

Over the course of her career, Knight has created large-scale, multi-platform campaigns for brands such as Nike, adidas, Gatorade and Coca-Cola. She has also completed the coveted “Sports trifecta,” having created campaigns for the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the World Cup. Butler said: “Linda is one of the most skilful and sought-after creative minds in our business, and we feel extremely privileged to have her join our creative leadership team. Her dynamic personality and breadth of experience will no doubt add extra strength to both out creative product and our culture.”

BBDO Guerrero

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Ali Silao has joined BBDO Guerrero as the agency’s Head of Art. Silao brings with him experience across a range of clients that has resulted in a number of high-profile campaigns. At BBDO Guerrero he will be working across the agency’s portfolio of brands that include famous names such as Pepsi, Globe Telecom, J&J, Fonterra, Philippine Department of Tourism and Mars. His campaigns have been recognised at Cannes, D&AD, the One Show and Clio – where his work on the ‘Water Billboard’ for Hana won a Grand Prix. He has also picked up awards at Spikes Asia, Adfest, Ad Stars and the Digital Asia Awards.

Ali Silao has joined BBDO Guerrero as the agency’s Head of Art

Ali said: “After ten amazing years with my previous agency I have decided to disrupt things a bit and join BBDO. I believe in the agency’s philosophy – the work, the work the work. It’s the perfect platform for me at this point in my career.” David Guerrero, Creative Chairman of the BBDO Guerrero, added: “Ali is a rare talent. And we are all delighted to be working with him. Together, we look forward to doing some amazing work for our clients.”

Mullen Lowe Group

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Lowe veteran, Joseph (Joe) George, currently Group CEO of the Mullen Lowe Lintas Group in India, adds South & Southeast Asia responsibilities to his current remit. The appointment is effective immediately, and Joe will report to Alex Leikikh, Global CEO, Mullen Lowe Group. Joe has been with the Lowe network for 24 years – joining Lintas Mumbai in 1991 and spending the next 15 years between the Mumbai and Bangalore offices. He took over as the head of the Unilever business in 2006, and successfully led the growth of that business and a few specialist marketing services divisions until his appointment as Deputy CEO in June 2010, and subsequently as CEO in January 2011.

Lowe veteran, Joseph (Joe) George, Group CEO of the Mullen Lowe Lintas Group in India, adds South & Southeast Asia responsibilities to his current remit

Alex Leikikh, Global CEO, Mullen Lowe Group, said “Joe is exactly the leader we need as part of our hugely dynamic Asia operation – he is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of growth. A key component of his role will focus on tapping into the resources of the robust India operation that he has built up in order to develop our hyper-bundled offering across the Southeast Asia markets.” Joe added: “I’m absolutely thrilled by the challenge of taking on an additional leadership role within the APAC region for the Mullen Lowe Group. Having worked within the network for over two decades, I clearly love the spirit: distinctive, entrepreneurial, collaborative and creative.”

FinchFactor

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Following an extended period of robust growth, including the launch of a new London headquarters and new client wins such as Mother London and Anomaly, FinchFactor, the brand reputation management agency, has announced the appointment of new general manager Louise Brierley-Ingham. She has worked in the PR industry in London and Amsterdam for over 10 years, primarily focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship. She joined FinchFactor two years ago as communications director, leading Amsterdam and London client accounts, such as 180 Amsterdam, DDB & Tribal, Amsterdam, MediaMonks and The Next Web. In the newly created role, Louise will be responsible for capitalising on the agency’s impressive reputation across Europe, within the spheres of creativity, design and innovation, through new business generation and managing current client relationships. This promotion comes off the back of recent new business wins for both London and Amsterdam offices. Anomaly and Beatport are the latest high profile client wins for the Amsterdam team and, earlier in 2015, Mother London was announced as the agency’s founding London account.

FinchFactor has announced the appointment of new general manager Louise Brierley-Ingham

Kerrie Finch, founder & CEO at FinchFactor, said: “Louise is a key asset in FinchFactor’s growth. Since day one she has proven herself to be a true ambassador for cross-borders communications excellence within our industry. Clients trust and respect her instincts. She is exceptional at building a multi-disciplinary team which partners with our clients on their route towards best of breed success. Creating this position for her, as part of FinchFactor’s expansion, was a no-brainer.” Brierley-Ingham added: “The potential for international growth at FinchFactor is rather astounding. We have worked hard to build a really strong team within the business, who live and breathe communications and consistently deliver outstanding client work. We continue to partner with the world’s best creativity and innovation players and I look forward to being part of the future success of FinchFactor.”

The Refinery AV

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The Refinery AV has added Matthew Hunt as VP of Games/Creative Director, a newly created position within the marketing agency. The announcement comes on the heels of The Refinery’s feted showing at the Clio Key Art Awards. The agency took home Silver honours for its short-form campaign for “Taken 3,” as well as five Bronze awards in various categories. Hunt has more than a decade of experience working in video game advertising, publishing and VFX/CG animation, as well as extensive experience in launching AAA game titles and high-profile licensed IPs. His primary focus will be working with Winn on expanding The Refinery AV’s footprint in the gaming business. Most recently, he was Senior Creative Producer at The Ant Farm, where he produced and creative-directed trailers, TV spots and campaigns for such notable game titles as “Call of Duty,” “Destiny,” “Mad Max,” and “Diablo 3.”

The Refinery AV has added Matthew Hunt as VP of Games/Creative Director

The Refinery AV Partner/Creative Director Brett Winn, said: “Seeing the efforts of our team celebrated among our incredibly talented peers is truly an honour. As they consistently raise the bar for great work, I’m eager to see what the future holds with Matt coming on board with his own award-winning pedigree in this industry. “Matt's passion, confidence and determination to ‘make a splash’ with everything he creates is what drew me to him. But the best -- and most important -- part is that he truly loves video games.” Hunt added: “What attracted me to The Refinery AV is the universal excitement here to create amazing things. There’s a wide open field for bringing distinct voices to every game and publisher. With our dedicated team of writers, editors, motion graphics/CG artists, and music supervisors, I feel that we can really help each title shine with its own identity.”

Camp + King

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Camp + King has hired advertising veteran Stacy McClain as its new director of Content Production, Chief Creative Officer Roger Camp announced this week. McClain has produced award-winning work for just about every kind of agency. She got her start at Young & Rubicam, and went on to produce some of the first Got Milk? and Foster Farms Chicken campaigns at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. Later, she joined Black Rocket as director of broadcast, where she produced the first Yahoo spots. As a freelancer, she’s done commercials for the likes of MINI, AT&T, Visa and Priceline.

Camp + King has hired advertising veteran Stacy McClain as its new director of Content Production

McClain deepened her expertise with a stint as executive producer at a video effects house. She has shot on a glacier, blown up cars, worked with 15 different kinds of animals and tolerated celebrities, all in the name of art serving commerce. Camp, who is also co-founder of the shop, said: “After 15 years of freelancing and turning down multiple full-time offers, I’m thrilled that Stacy chose to be a part of Camp + King. She’s got everything we need to continue to grow: She’s a wildly smart, passionate, problem solver who has proven to be unshakable. In a word, she’s nails.”

Impero

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Creative, digital and social agency IMPERO has hired two key members of staff to reflect the evolving needs of their clients and the changing nature of their business. Dan Deeks-Osburn joins the agency as Lead Strategist. He will develop and maintain, brand, communications, digital, content and social media strategies across the agency’s client roster, while ensuring deep integration with other channels. IMPERO has also appointed Neil Higton as a Client Partner to run two of the agency’s key accounts – Beefeater Gin and Campo Viejo. Prior to joining IMPERO, he served as Head of Social at Essence. IMPERO Creative Director and founder Michael Scantlebury, said: “Many agencies have suits who pursue their own agenda and sell what they want, rather than what the client needs. That’s not good enough in 2015. Our agency (and our clients) need real partners who can grow brands online. Bringing Neil and Dan into the team reflects this need.”

Creative, digital and social agency IMPERO has hired two key members of staff

Deeks-Obburn said: “Brands today aren’t built on whiteboards in boardrooms. They’re built online, in real-time, cheek by jowl with the consumers who love or hate them. To gain a place in people’s increasingly cluttered lives, brands need to start online, with purpose, and build up from there.” Higton added: “We’re now living in a world where it’s imperative for brands to capture hearts and minds in the digital space if they are to thrive. The brands that listen to what consumers want and provide platforms for them to participate in what they are doing are the ones that truly inspire their audiences to create something meaningful with them” IMPERO’s clients include Jacob’s Creek, Beefeater Gin, Campo Viejo and Lindt Chocolate.

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