Agency news you need to know this week

Feeling 16 again To celebrate 16 years of being in business, Johannes Leonardo made a video asking some of its employees to reminisce and imagine what as they would tell their 16-year-old selves. The employees are shown holding photos of themselves at that age. The internal effort was shared on the agency’s social channels and included appearances from CEO Emily Wilcox and Founders Jan Jacobs and Leo Premutico. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here Build-A-Bear’s new AOR Build-A-Bear Workshop has appointed Known as its creative and strategy agency of record, following a competitive pitch. Known will be tasked with marketing across different touchpoints including in-store, website, omnichannel campaigns, new partnerships and original programming. The brand didn’t previously have a lead creative AOR, according to a Known spokeswoman. The first work is expected to hit the market in this spring. Known had previously worked with the client on strategy. CSOs on the move Atlanta-based agency Chemistry has appointed a former Martin Agency executive as its chief strategy officer: Taylor Grimes, who was previously head of business development at the Interpublic Group of Cos. agency. Grimes has also held strategy roles at Deutsch LA and Dentsu. Independent agency The Shipyard has also hired a chief strategy officer: Nigel Carr, who was chief strategy officer at Tombras for eight years. Carr’s resume also includes roles at Ogilvy and Chiat/Day when the latter agency just had 18 employees in 1985. Carr takes over for David Grzelak, who will remain with the agency to lead strategic growth initiatives, according to a statement. Shipyard’s clients include Visit California, In-N-Out Burger, InterContinental Hotels Group, Prestige Consumer Healthcare, the San Diego Zoo, American Freight, the San Francisco Ballet and Utah ski resort Snowbird. “I’m forever grateful for Nigel moving to Knoxville and joining Tombras in 2015,” said Dooley Tombras, president of the Tennessee-based agency. “We had a lot of fun winning business and doing great work together.” Tombras’ search for a new CSO is already underway, a spokesperson said. See all of Ad Age’s 2024 Creativity Award winners here PR agency wins new client PR and media agency Brennan Nevada Inc. has won several new clients, including SoLo Funds, one of the largest Black-owned personal finance companies in the U.S., which named the shop PR agency of record. The agency’s founder, Brennan Nevada Johnson, is a descendant of Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Black History Month who also created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The PR agency is meant to continue Woodson’s legacy by working with Black and BIPOC businesses and startups. More: A celebration of creative excellence for Black History Month Burrell Communications to bring ANTA Sports to the U.S. International sportswear company ANTA Sports has appointed Burrell Communications as its first U.S. creative agency of record. China-based ANTA is looking to make a push into the U.S. market with the help of NBA star Kyrie Irving, who was named ANTA’s chief creative officer last year. Burrell will execute the U.S. rollout of Irving’s signature ANTA KAI 1 shoe line and collection. The first campaign is expected to launch this quarter. This is the agency’s first big win under Tara DeVeaux, who took over as Burrell’s new CEO in October. Celebrating 80 years of Smokey Bear It’s been 80 years since Smokey Bear made his first appearance. The USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council teamed with FCB New York to pay homage to the fire prevention icon. FCB has been the agency behind the bear since his 1944 introduction. The “Decades” campaign includes a PSA ad featuring actor Brian Tyree Henry as the new voice of Smokey Bear and includes nostalgic moments of Smokey’s impact on Americans. Just briefly Retail chain Hy-Vee has appointed Ogilvy as strategic and creative partner for its health brands, which include RedBox Rx, Vivid Clear Rx, Amber Specialty Pharmacy and Hy-Vee Health Infusion Care. The account will be led by Ogilvy Health, leveraging creative, strategy, and customer experience from across the network, as well as Ogilvy Consulting’s Behavioral Science practice. There was no prior agency. Welch’s Fruit Snacks has appointed Gut creative agency of record in what is believed to be the brand’s first AOR relationship. The agency will be focused on creative, strategic planning, communications strategy and production in the U.S. Ad Age Creativity Bookmark our section covering the best in brand creativity every day Read more here

Agency news you need to know this week

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