M&C Saatchi Performance names new CEO

M&C Saatchi Performance named Kabeer Chaudhary its new global CEO. Chaudhary, previously managing director for the Asia Pacific region, replaces founder James Hilton, who will remain as chairman.

Chaudhary will continue to be based out of Singapore and be responsible for managing the agency’s operations across APAC, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. He will also continue in his managing director role until the agency appoints a replacement.

“In Kabeer we have a dynamic and respected leader with a clear vision for the agency’s future,” Hilton said in a statement. “Over the past eight years working at M&C Saatchi Performance, he has been gaining trust and recognition from our team and clients taking our APAC business to the next level and driving operational excellence.”

Bellevue University picks Tombras for creative and media business

Bellevue University, a nonprofit based in Bellevue, Nebraska, selected Tombras as its first creative and media agency of record. Tombras aims to help Bellevue increase brand awareness among working adults with the goal of increasing total student enrollment over the next five years.

The independent agency will be tasked with data strategy, media buying and planning, SEO, marketing funnel curation, media testing and creative services. Tombras is focused on highlighting the university’s mission of helping students find success with higher education.

“The world has fundamentally shifted and enhanced consumer expectations are squarely hitting higher education,” Julia Doria, VP of growth marketing at Bellevue, said in a statement. “Prospective students are looking for relevant, highly valuable, dynamic and flexible learning experiences that propel their career growth and earning potential forward.”

The agency will also collaborate with Bellevue to create a co-branded curriculum for aspiring marketing professionals. Tombras’ first work from the partnership is expected to launch later this year. 

Drink and charge

Simply Spike's newest campaign aims to ensure customers take their time while drinking a can of the alcoholic beverage from The Coca-Cola Co. and Molson Coors. The campaign from Mischief @ No Fixed Address includes a raffle for a chance to win a can sleeve that allows users to charge their phones.  The “Juice Boost Charging Can Sleeve” comes equipped with a magnet that clips to the side of a smartphone.

Revlon Group picks Horizon Media for U.S. and Canada media account

Revlon Group, the parent company of beauty brands including Revlon, Almay and Elizabeth Arden, selected Horizon media as its U.S. and Canada agency of record after a five-month review. 

The U.S. media agency will handle brand and performance media for Revlon Group’s North American portfolio with the goal of expanding consumer loyalty, deepening engagement, driving new product launches and transforming the company’s digital presence, according to a press release.

Revlon emerged from bankruptcy last month after cutting more than $2.7 billion in debt and handing control to its lenders, according to Reuters. Revlon's new owners include Glendon Capital Management, King Street Capital Management, Angelo Gordon & Co., and Oak Hill Advisors.

Revlon previously handled all of its media in-house. 

Deutsch NY campaign understands health care takes a village

America's health care system can sometimes feel like a factory, in which doctors have limited time with their patients. That's the message from VillageMD, the primary medical care offering majority owned by Walgreens, in its “The New Way to Well” campaign from Deutsch NY.

One spot shows non-VillageMD doctors being whisked from patient to patient via harnesses, never getting the chance to adequately treat their patients. The spot then shows a patient walking into VillageMD, which pitches itself as a more personalized health care option with better medical team coordination. 

“Today’s health care system is one that rewards efficiency over humanity, and VillageMD’s leadership team is rewriting the script,” Samira Ansari, chief creative officer of Deutsch NY, said in a statement. “The campaign captures the 'factory-like' feel of today’s systems and compares it to a more compassionate, more relationship-driven health care offering that is Village Medical.” 

Just briefly

Doremus+Co has named Sarah Lent president. She takes over for Paul Hirsch, who has been elevated to CEO and retains the title of chief creative officer. Lent previously worked in leadership roles at EssenceMediacom and R/GA.

Ukrainian advertising agencies Who Are You and Rocketmen agency are coupling their creative resources to raise money and support Ukraine’s independent ad agencies. Rocketmen agency launched the “Creative Wave” project, which created a visual identity for Ukrainian businesses and assisted in crisis management. Who Are You launched “Stand With Ukraine,” which created 400 videos documenting Russia’s war crimes in the country. 

Barbarian appointed Henry Fernandez as executive director of business development and marketing. This newly created role will evolve how the agency partners with clients as it expands its executive team. He joins from VCCP, where he was director of business evolution.

New York agency network Meet The People added Saltwater Collective to its roster of agencies. With the addition of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based digital agency, Meet The People, grows to 550 employees across North America. 

Plus Company Canada has hired Karine Courtemanche as exec VP of the agency and president of the media group, including Cossette Media and Jungle Media, a new post. Courtemanche joins from Omnicom Media Group, where she led the Touché! and PHD media teams.