Dog Lovers For Joe creative collective returns

The creative collective once known as Dog Lovers For Joe, now billing itself as Dog Lovers For Harris, has unveiled a new ad for the Harris-Walz presidential campaign targeting skeptics in swing states who question the viability of a female president.

The spot, created by advertising veterans Rob Schwartz, Patrick O’Neill and George Tannenbaum, showcases a series of iconic female leaders, such as Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth II and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, before ending with the message, “For some 2,000 years, the best man for the job has been a woman.”

The film will launch on social media platforms and be made available to the Harris-Walz campaign and relevant political action committees. "Michelle Obama reminded us at the DNC to 'Do Something,’” Schwartz said in a statement. “This is our something." 

Barbarian makes digital transformation deal 

Barbarian has acquired g-Innovations, the Cheil Worldwide agency told Ad Age. G-Innovations, which bills itself as a digital transformation company, has 90 employees and has worked with clients such as Samsung, Adobe and Cisco. 

G-Innovations will be folded into Barbarian. Gourang Mehta, g-Innovations’ president and chief architect, will assume the title of managing director and report to Barbarian CEO Joe Maglio, who also serves as CEO of McKinney and president of Cheil North America.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Havas New York finalizes leadership team

Havas New York has appointed Justine Feron as chief strategy officer. Feron, who was formerly head of brand strategy at WPP’s Grey, will help manage clients including Danone, Keurig Dr Pepper and JBL. She replaces Tim Maleeny, who now serves as chief strategy officer for Havas North America.

Feron rounds out Havas New York’s leadership team, which also includes CEO Sarah Collinson, Co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer Dan Lucey and Chief Production Officer Melissa Tifrere. 

Horizon Media names AI head

Horizon Media has announced Tim Rich as its new head of AI solutions. Reporting to Rich Arenaro, Horizon Media’s chief technology and information security officer, Rich will focus on building generative AI models and aim to enhance data insights, according to Horizon Media.

It wasn’t immediately clear who, if anyone, Rich is replacing in the role. He most recently co-founded the Convergence Collective, an AI-focused consultancy, and has also worked at Publicis Groupe.

Just briefly

M&C Saatchi Group promoted Isabella Pierangelo to U.S. regional growth director, a new role. She was formerly business development director at M&C Saatchi’s New York-based agency, SS+K.

Sandals Resorts named Leo Burnett as creative agency of record for its Sandals and Beaches brands following a competitive review. HH Advertising was the incumbent on the account.

Innocean Canada has appointed John Killam to the new role of chief operating officer and chief growth officer. Killam was most recently president of Toronto-based agency Ostrich Studios. 

Uncommon Creative Studio hired Scott Dungate, a former chief creative officer at Wieden+Kennedy New York, as the first chief creative officer for its London unit. Dungate had been freelancing since leaving W+K New York in late 2023. 

Wasserman has acquired talent representation company Long Haul Management. Long Haul’s staff and clients will sit within Wasserman Creators and Long Haul CEO Dan Levitt will become senior VP, creators at Wasserman. Financial terms were not disclosed.