Revolving Door Roster Updates: Doe-Anderson, Horizon Media, OpenX & More

This week’s industry updates highlight key leadership changes and expansions across agencies, talent management firms, and creative production companies.

AbelsonTaylor Group

AbelsonTaylor Group appointed Justin Zylberman as director of business development. Zylberman will lead the agency’s pitch development process, spearhead proactive prospecting, and support organic business growth efforts. Before joining AbelsonTaylor Group, Zylberman worked with MedPoint Digital, Edelman, and Intouch Solutions. 

Adam&eveDDB

Adam&eveDDB New York enlisted Rene Ramirez as head of creative talent and culture. Ramirez, who joins from Droga5, will focus on creative recruiting and operations, collaborating closely with the agency’s leadership team. Ramirez brings over seven years of experience from Droga5, where he worked with top creatives and contributed to multiple award-winning campaigns.

Ammunition

Ammunition named Stephanie Van Meter as chief operating officer. Since joining as chief of staff in 2022, Van Meter has driven operational excellence and implemented strategic processes that improved agency efficiency. In her new role, she will oversee operations and manage talent acquisition while focusing on innovation to keep the agency competitive in the industry.

Biscuit Filmworks

Biscuit Filmworks announced the signing of Matthew Dillon Cohen to its U.S. and U.K. rosters. Cohen is recognized for his visual storytelling style, collaborating with artists like Zach Bryan, Joji, and Olivia Rodrigo. His recent work includes music videos, commercials, and projects for brands such as Converse, Facebook, and Ralph Lauren. Biscuit Filmworks also added directing duo Los Pérez to its UK roster, expanding upon their US partnership. The duo is known for their vibrant, cinematic style, with recent projects for Tinder, Apple, and Taco Bell.

Cognitiv

Cognitiv, a provider of deep learning AI for marketers, has appointed Eric Danetz as the company’s first president. For over two decades, Danetz has held global leadership roles at iconic media brands. Most recently, Danetz was the global head of revenue and member of the Reuters executive committee with oversight over all B2C and B2B lines of business. 

Communications Group

The Communications Group promoted Lisa Van Hook to president. Van Hook has been with the company for nearly three decades and will now oversee the agency’s operations, including its creative, digital, media, and public relations departments. Van Hook steps into the role after serving as executive vice president and director of client services.

Denomination

Denomination announced two new leadership hires and the opening of its fourth office in New York City. Hamish Campbell joins as vp executive creative director, while Ellie Hansen steps into the role of managing director Sydney, and global chief growth officer. Campbell will lead U.S. business operations, while Hansen focuses on driving global growth for the agency.

Doe-Anderson

Doe-Anderson hired Marianne Newton as vp, director of integrated production. Newton, with an extensive production background, has worked on campaigns for brands such as Maker’s Mark and Georgia Aquarium. Her new role will involve managing production across all platforms for the agency.

FCB

FCB New York has expanded its leadership team by promoting Kat Grib to chief growth officer. She steps up from svp of strategic growth to this newly created role, where she will oversee both growth and marketing, lead the creative awards process, and help expand FCB’s tools, capabilities and partnerships.

Horizon Media

Horizon Media appointed Tim Rich as head of AI solutions. Rich will focus on advancing AI technologies within the agency, leading initiatives that integrate data-driven insights into client campaigns. Rich brings a wealth of experience in data science, previously pioneering quantitative methods in social sciences.

Influencer

Influencer strengthened its North American leadership by appointing Brian Pham as vp of strategy, media, and production. Pham will lead a team of strategists, creatives, and media specialists to expand the agency’s service offerings across North America. Pham’s prior work includes developing brand strategies for companies like Sports Illustrated and 888 Holdings.

Iris

Global creative network Iris has appointed Zoe Eagle as CEO, Iris London, and Katy Hopkins as executive creative director, Iris London. The appointments come as Claire Humphris, London CEO and Grant Hunter, global chief creative officer, step down after 25 and 20 years at the agency, respectively. Eagle joins from Accenture Song where she was creative agency co-chief. Hopkins joins from House337, where she was creative director.

January Digital

January Digital hired Rebecca Visconti as vp of analytics. Visconti, with over a decade of analytics experience, will lead the agency’s advanced analytics modeling and AI-powered system expansion. She has worked with brands like Kate Spade, L’Oréal, and P&G, and serves as an adjunct professor at SMU.

Joan London

Independent creative agency Joan London has made four new senior hires. Rebecca Rowntree joins from Leo Burnett as creative director, with Anomaly’s creative duo, Thorbjørn Liljegren and Christine Jensen as senior creatives. George Fox, former business director at adam&eve, has taken the role of business director. The new hires will support Joan London’s ambitious growth plans.

OpenX

OpenX promoted Matt Sattel to chief revenue officer. Sattel, who has been with the company since 2021, will oversee revenue operations and strategic partnerships. His previous roles at OpenX focused on expanding buyer development and co-innovating with key clients to drive growth.

Quality Meats

Quality Meats has named Jonathan King as head of growth. The newly created role comes at a time of growth for the agency. King, who is based in Chicago, will work with QM’s team across the U.S., overseeing all aspects of agency growth including pitch management, strategy, and execution; agency prospecting; partnership expansion for current brand partners; and agency marketing, and PR. 

Raptive

Raptive, a creator media company, appointed Tom Critchlow as executive vice president of audience growth. Critchlow is one of several strategic hires focused on expanding and developing new resources for creators. In his role, Critchlow will lead a new audience growth function, aiming to support and enhance creator growth across the Raptive network of 5,200+ creators. 

Select Management Group

Select Management Group elevated Caroline Nardilla to partner. Nardilla, who has been with the company for several years, will continue leading talent management efforts, supporting influencers and digital content creators across various platforms.

Socially Powerful

Socially Powerful expanded its offerings with the launch of an influencer talent management team. Led by Curtis Morton, the new unit will leverage AI tools to support both established and emerging influencers, focusing on expanding their reach and brand partnerships.

Special US

Special continues to invest in its New York presence. The global independent agency has brought Shannon Nunn on to be president of its growing New York office. He joins Special from Omnicom-held TBWA\Chiat\Day, where he spent the last five years, most recently as managing director of the company’s New York office.

The Ingenuity Group

The Ingenuity Group appointed Patrick Meehan as chief finance officer. Meehan, who previously held leadership roles at SH Global and GVC Holdings PLC, will support the group’s strategic expansion following a series of acquisitions in the past year.

Unreal Snacks

Unreal Snacks hired Alison Whritenour as chief commercial officer. Whritenour, formerly of Seventh Generation, will lead the brand through key seasonal campaigns, including Halloween and the holiday season. She brings over a decade of experience in brand marketing and innovation.

Vudoo

Vudoo expanded into the Americas, appointing Raj Chauhan as president. Chauhan, with over two decades of experience in digital advertising, will focus on driving Vudoo’s growth in the region. He previously held senior roles at Rubicon Project and OpenX.

We Are Social

We Are Social has promoted Matt Walker to executive creative director. Walker, who has spent the past two years leading culturally-driven campaigns for top brands including Adidas, YouTube, EA Sports, Bose, and MLS, will now oversee the creative teams across We Are Social’s New York and Los Angeles offices. In his new role, he will help redefine creative processes, enhance the agency’s workplace culture, and drive the agency’s “Ideas Worth Talking About” initiative.