The Sauce Serve Truck is KFC's second activation with MullenLowe this year.
KFC is tapping into the allure of the ice cream truck to debut three new saucy nugget flavors. With the help of MullenLowe, the chain is rolling out a “Sauce Serve Truck” on a tri-city tour, making stops in New York City, Austin, Texas and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Sauce Serve Truck, KFC’s second activation with MullenLowe in 2024, has its own jingle, which puts a “dope twist” on a nostalgic track, according to a statement from the Interpublic Group of Cos.’ shop.
IW Group is teaming with writer and producer Keith Dorrington, best known for his work on “The Fighter,” to develop and produce his latest script, “Hou Yi.” The move marks IW Group’s foray into film development. The Los Angeles agency helped market “Crazy Rich Asians” and received a 2024 Webby Award for its work on “Barbie.”
Inspired by Dorrington’s experience as a businessman in China during the late 1990s, the movie follows a self-centered executive who is suddenly entrusted with the care of a three-year-old orphan girl named Hou Yi. IW Group will help forge strategic alliances with overseas partners and develop collaborations with transnational brands.
“As an agency that works at the intersection of Hollywood, Madison Avenue and Asia, we feel there are some amazing untapped opportunities in this current media landscape,” said Bill Imada, co-founder and chairman of IW Group, in a statement.
Rethink has promoted Tara Lawall to partner and chief creative officer for New York. Lawall, who was formerly executive creative director, replaces Daniel Lobatón Morey, who is leaving the independent agency for another undisclosed opportunity.
Tara Lawall, partner and chief creative officer at Rethink, New York.
Rethink, which is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, opened its New York office in 2022. The office recently added Associate Creative Directors Jon Krippahne and Patrick French from Droga5. “There’s something special about the New York office right now—we have the right people and momentum,” Lawall said in a statement.
Verb has hired Kelle Coleman as head of marketing and growth and Kindra Meyer as executive creative director. Both roles are new.
L-R: Kelle Coleman, head of growth and marketing, and Kindra Meyer, executive creative director.
Coleman was previously senior VP, strategic partnership and experience at Nielsen. Meyer had been consulting for Verb since April 2023, and will help rebrand the experiential agency in her new role.
Grey promoted Beth Rolfs to the new role of global chief data officer. Rolfs formerly served as chief data officer for the WPP agency’s New York office.
Weber Shandwick named Marianna Ruiz as chief creative officer, creative growth, North America, a new role at the IPG agency. She most recently served as an executive creative director at Edelman and has held senior roles at Havas and FCB Global.
Creative communications agency CTP has been named agency of record for the Cambridge Office for Tourism, which manages the destination marketing, PR and visitor services for Cambridge, Massachusetts. It wasn’t immediately clear whether there was a review or an incumbent on the account.
The American Advertising Federation will add nine new members to its Hall of Achievement. The class of 2024 includes Imani Ellis, founder and CEO of The Creative Collective; Bianca Guimaraes, partner and executive creative director, Mischief @ No Fixed Address; Sanja Komljenovic, founder, CEO and executive creative director at ONA Creative; Danisha Lomax, executive VP and head of client inclusivity and impact at Digitas; Karen Land Short, global executive creative director and managing director, sustainability at Accenture Song; Neil Waller, co-founder and co-CEO at Whalar Group; Melanie Washington, principal and head of global contract advisory at MediaLink; and Marques Zak, head of multicultural marketing at American Express. Actress, writer and producer Issa Rae is this year’s Cultural Force Award recipient.
