Deutsch Los Angeles promoted Doris Chung to executive vice president, executive creative director. She will lead all creative for H&R Block, Mattel, Mott’s, Canada Dry and Squirt. Previously, she was SVP, group creative director at DigitasLBi where she worked with brands including American Express, Puma and P&G.
Johannes Leonardo hired three creative directors: Alice Blastorah, Ray Smiling and Dan Grech. Blastorah spent three years at Saatchi and Saatchi Los Angeles working on Toyota Global Olympics and Paralympics. She has also held positions at Deutsch LA and BBDO, working with Volkswagen, Target and PepsiCo. Smiling joins from BBDO where he worked on Foot Locker. He has also worked at Droga5, 72&Sunny and R/GA on accounts such as Under Armour, Covergirl Adidas, Beats By Dre and ESPN. Grech joins from Goodby Silverstein & Partners where he worked on Xfinity, Tostitos and Cheetos. He also led digital creative for Jordan and Anheuser Busch at AKQA San Francisco.
TBWA\Media Arts Lab has appointed Ricardo Adolfo as executive creative director of its Japan and Korea offices. Adolfo is an industry vet who has previously worked at 180 Amsterdam, DDB Amsterdam and London and most recently, Ogilvy Tokyo. The appointment marks his return to the TBWA network—earlier in his career, he worked as a copywriter at TBWA/Lisbon. Adolfo is also an award-winning novelist and has penned several film and television projects, including the screenplay for award-winning film “Saint George,” Portugal’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards. He will report directly to TBWA/MAL Global Chief Creative Office Brent Anderson.
The Community hired Benjamin Bittman as EVP, managing director. In the newly created role, he will lead the agency’s Verizon business. Bittman joins from Sundae Collective, where he was managing director and co-founder. He was also chief marketing officer at Videoo, co-founder of Promoht and has held positions at Anomaly, Saatchi & Saatchi and TWBA.
Laughlin Constable hired Vince Cook as executive creative director and Austin Scott as digital creative director. Previously, Cook was SVP creative director at Leo Burnett, where he led the rebrand for Samsung mobile, including the “ostrich” ad “Do What You Can’t.” He has also worked with clients including McDonald’s and United Healthcare. Scott has held positions with agencies including FCB West, Leo Burnett, Euro RSCG, Energy BBDO and EP & Co, working with clients including Bud Light, Lenovo, Pearle Vision, Verizon, Ziploc, Raid and The UPS Store.
Garage Team Mazda hired Steve Chavez as chief creative officer, Joanna Young as chief strategy officer and Arnel Kasmally as senior vice president, head of customer engagement. Chavez ran his own creative agency, North of Sunset, and was CCO for Leo Burnett in Detroit, working with the NCAA and Buick. He has also held positions at Doner, Saatchi & Saatchi and Ogilvy & Mather. Kasmally joins from the Mobile Marketing Association, where he was managing director, head of digital and has worked at Essence Media, Geometry Global, Y&R and Ogilvy. Young joins from Team One, where she was management director, strategic planning. She has overseen brand strategy for The Ritz Carlton and St. Regis hotels and Lexus and was group planning director at Havas New York.
Amsterdam-based We Are Pi has four new international hires: Brand Strategist Danny Marsh, Senior Producer Vyvy Ly and Business Directors Sam Grischotti and Agathe Derrstroff. Marsh joins from 72 & Sunny New York and has also worked at Wieden & Kennedy and R/GA, with brands including Nike, Samsung and ESPN. Ly joins from Havas Chicago and was at 72andSunny Los Angeles before that, working on Google, Boeing, and Toyota. Grischotti joins from Saatchi & Saatchi London where he worked on T-Mobile, Guinness Global, HSBC and Chelsea Football Club. Derrstroff joins from TBWA/Media Arts Lab in London. She has also consulted with R/GA on Google.
Geometry hired Curt Munk as North American chief strategy officer. He joins from FCB/RED where he was EVP, head of strategy. He has worked at brands including Walmart, Xfinity and Samsung and with brands including Coca-Cola, Nestlé Purina, Anheuser Busch, P&G and USPS.