Tag: executive creative director

Mumbai, India – Brand and customer experience agency VMLY&R in India has appointed Rajshekar Patil as its new executive creative director. He will report to Mukund Olety, chief creative officer at VMLY&R India. 

At VMLY&R, Rajshekar will oversee the creative capabilities of the agency, assist in campaign conceptualization, and support the agency’s creative vision. As part of the leadership team, he will also champion a culture of creativity, inclusiveness, and innovation.

He was previously with Publicis Mumbai as an ECD as well, where he headed the accounts of Skoda Motors, Citi, Zee5 and Times Group. Furthermore, he has worked on TVC campaigns for Skoda Superb, Rapid and launched the Karoq alongside campaigns for Citi and Zee Cafe.

In total, Patil brings in 18 years of work experience with him as an award-winning integrated advertising professional working at the intersection of creativity and technology.

Speaking about his appointment, he said, “VMLY&R brings together a blend of creativity, technology, data and culture to create truly unique solutions for clients. Creativity here seeps into every facet of the agency and I look forward to working closely with Anil [Nair] and Mukund [Olety] to create some fantastic work.”

Meanwhile, Olety commented, “I am delighted that Rajshekar is joining us. He is a passionate, razor-sharp, creative thinker with a portfolio that speaks to his desire for genuine impact through his work. I welcome him wholeheartedly to the VMLY&R family and look forward to growing our creative reputation across the country.”

Australia – Advertising agency TBWA\Sydney has announced the elevation of Katrina Alvarez-Jarratt, former creative director, to now assume the position of the team’s executive creative director (ECD).

Alvarez-Jarratt has been with TBWA\Sydney since 2016, working across accounts including Tourism New Zealand, Pepsi, and Woolmark, as well as Optus. Prior to joining the agency, she has worked as the associate creative director at TBWA\Australia, the senior art director at Clemenger BBDO, and the art director at Clemenger BBDO Wellington.

Following the elevation of Alvarez-Jarratt, TBWA\Sydney has appointed two creative directors, Bec Johnson-Pond and James Sexton. 

Commenting on her new role, Alvarez-Jarratt said she is beyond stoked and can’t wait to create a space where creative people thrive, feel inspired and make the best work of their careers.

“In my time at TBWA I have been very lucky to have been able to work with, learn from, and be supported by some of the best in the business. I hope that in this new role I can pass on some of that good stuff to those around me, ” said Alvarez-Jarratt. 

Evan Roberts, TBWA\Sydney’s chief creative officer, believes that Alvarez-Jarratt epitomizes everything they want the agency to be, and that she’s got a team-first mentality, describing her as open-minded, curious, and relentless in her pursuit of disruptive ideas. 

“Pair that with the fact that she has been around our best work, trickiest briefs, building our creative culture and you can see why she is so important to us. I’m thoroughly thrilled to make this appointment and recognize her ongoing contribution,” said Roberts.

Just recently, TBWA\Sydney has also announced two new leadership promotions, namely Nitsa Lotus, the new chief growth officer, and Tanya Vragalis, the new managing director.

Singapore – TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the Los Angeles-headquartered creative agency solely dedicated to Apple, has named a new executive creative director for the Asia-Pacific region, Kenny Blumenschein. Blumenschein was most recently from advertising agency Energy BBDO, and before that, worked for Facebook as its creative strategist for the Greater China Region for almost three years.

TBWA\Media Arts Lab currently operates in 25 markets globally, with five regional hubs outside its HQ—London, Miami, Singapore, Shanghai, and Tokyo. The agency solely creates work for the tech and smartphone giant Apple.

As the new ECD for APAC, Blumenschein will be based out of the Singapore hub and will be partnering with Managing Director, Michaela Futcher and reporting into Global Chief Creative Officer, Brent Anderson.

At Energy BBDO, Blumenschein held the same role of ECD alongside being the agency’s senior vice president. During his time there, he notably worked on the award-winning Wrigley’s ‘For when it’s time’ campaign. Meanwhile, at Facebook, he assisted global brands in crafting their stories and reaching business objectives through Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, according to his LinkedIn.

Blumenschein said that joining Media Arts Lab is a no-brainer as he always had a ‘crush’ on the agency.

“It’s a very rare opportunity to work on such an iconic brand with the smartest and nicest people in our industry. To do this in APAC, which is one of the most diverse, fastest-growing, and exciting regions is a further privilege,” he said.

Blumenschein is of Thai and German descent. He has amassed experience across multiple continents, including Europe, North America, and Asia, bringing with him valuable global perspective to his work. Aside from his most recent roles at Energy BBDO and Facebook, he also previously held posts at Ogilvy as ECD Digital & Content, and as head of creative at VMLY&R. Back in Germany, Kenny has also spent time at BBDO and Isobar.

In the new role, he will be working with teams stretching across the APAC, from India to Australia, to develop business building and culture-defining work for one of the world’s most recognizable global brands.

Futcher commented, “This part of the world couldn’t be more important to us, and ensuring that we have the creative firepower to deliver on our ambitions has been a critical focus. I’m so excited to have found someone of Kenny’s creative caliber, humanity, and experience to help us do that. His background as a ‘cultural chameleon’ is critical to us unlocking the diverse opportunities across a region as vast as APAC.”

Meanwhile, Anderson said, “Kenny is a strategic, innovative, and artful creative leader with great instincts and taste. He’s led dynamic, modern teams across agencies both in Asia and North America. He’s spearheaded cultural, integrated work that breaks through for challenging clients. Kenny is a creative soul with a reputation of mentoring, building atmospheres wherein creativity thrives and protecting great ideas.”

Sydney, Australia – Sydney-based creative agency BMF has recently promoted its current group creative director Pia Chauduri to the new role of executive creative director, 18 months after Chaudhuri first joined the agency.

Her new role reflects her extensive portfolio of award-winning work, having worked in the industry for over 17 years in specialist creative, experiential, digital, PR and social agencies. In her time at BMF as group creative director, she has been behind some of the agency’s best work and has been responsible for securing a number of recent new business wins.

Furthermore, her work at BMF also included securing a pitch to retain the Department of Social Services account in leading the government’s long-term behavior change campaign to tackle domestic violence. She also creatively led other COVID-19 related campaigns, as well as work with financial services company BPAY for its brand platform, and the Department of Heath’s campaign ‘How’s Your Head’, which tackles mental health.

Speaking about her appointment, she said, “It’s not often you start at an agency and feel immediately at home, but BMF is just one of those places. The team, the culture, the work, are all standout. 18 months later, I’m excited and humbled to have been given this opportunity, and look forward to being part of BMF’s next chapter.”

In addition to her work at BMF, she is also passionate about creating an industry of inclusivity and equality. Driving diversity initiatives internally at BMF, Pia has shaped the making of ‘The Acknowledgement Project’, a short film acknowledging the Gadigal people, an indigenous group in Australia, as custodians of the land Aussies live, walk and breathe on today. The film was launched internally during National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week, an observance of the indigenous people who had lived in Australia.

Alex Derwin, chief creative officer of BMF, commented, “Pia has made a huge impact since her first day at BMF. She’s courageous, principled, and has impeccable taste – all the ingredients to be not just a creative leader, but a leader in our business, and for our culture. She’s a role model to everyone here, and I couldn’t be happier to be working alongside her in taking BMF into the future.”

Singapore – Public Groupe’s creative communication hub Publicis Communications has promoted Sharim Gubbels, its former group creative director, to be its new executive creative director for advertising agency Leo Burnett in Singapore.

Gubbels has been with Publicis Communications for the past five years, focusing on growing social and digital expertise across Publicis’ brands. In his former role, Gubbels has previously worked with Leo Burnett for the past 18 months leading the McDonald’s account. He has also worked on Samsung, Audi, and Disney accounts.

In his new role at Leo Burnett, Gubbels will be working closely with Publicis Communications’ CEO Lou Dela Pena and Chief Creative Officer Jennie Morris. He will be responsible for reimagining the agency’s ethos of HumanKind – the agency’s bold philosophy that represents the notion that ads must be centered on meaningful experiences – and what it means for creativity and clients in the new normal.

Commenting on his promotion, Gubbels said, “HumanKind is such a powerful way to create and foster true connections between brands and people, and I can’t wait to further expand on Leo Burnett’s already amazing body of work, and its ethos.”

Meanwhile, Morris shared that as the world re-evaluates what is really important and returns to the ideals of culture and community, there has never been a more important time for its ethos of ‘HumanKind’. With this, she sees Gubbels as the perfect person to lead the creative charge at Leo Burnett.

“Work like the highly acclaimed McDonald’s Ramadan ‘My Happy Table’ activation shows the power of what’s possible when we set out to not just solve business problems, but human problems,” said Morris. 

Dela Pena also commented that they are excited to elevate one of their brightest talents to lead the next chapter of Leo Burnett’s growth and to deepen human connections for their current and future clients.

Last April, Leo Burnett launched one of its projects with McDonald’s Singapore, physical activation ‘My Happy Table’. It uses technology and a camera set-up to help Singapore-based individuals ‘reunite’ with their families in Malaysia during Ramadan.

Australia – Experiential marketing agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) Australia and New Zealand has recently appointed Adrian Goldthorp, former senior creative director of design company Imagination, to be its new executive creative director, effective 6 April 2021.

Goldthorp brings with him over 25 years of local and international experience in creatives. He has worked with top-tier brands, which includes Samsung, Telstra, and Commonwealth Bank, as well as Westpac, and Jaguar Land Rover. Goldthorp has also creatively led noteworthy projects such as Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience and Samsung Vivid. 

The newly created role is expected to move the agency’s momentum as a creative powerhouse in the ANZ region. Goldthorp will be responsible for leading GPJ’s creatives across Australia and New Zealand. 

Commenting on his new role, Goldthorp said “I’m excited to join this passionate and high caliber team of creatives, as well as the opportunity to be a part of the agency’s new growth plan.”

Caleb Bush, the senior vice president and managing director of GPJ ANZ, believes that Goldthorp’s passion to craft effective and highly engaging campaigns will help the agency in connecting with people to build positive ongoing relationships.

“As we continue to drive creativity and innovation through all our work, Adrian brings unmatched experience and skills to complement the agency; for us, it’s a natural fit. The pandemic altered the face of the events and experiential industry so as we re-align the agency for continued growth in 2021, strategic hires like Adrian give us the confidence that GPJ will continue to be an industry leader for years to come,” said Bush.