• by Larissa Faw , October 15, 2014

72andSunny has always championed a uniquely LA kind of advertising: audacious work created by collaborative and optimistic people. Now, however, agency executives want to translate its ethos to other cities, starting with New York City.

The agency has opened a 13,000 square foot office on the top two floors of 30 Cooper Square in the East Village. The New York staff currently consists of 40 designers, writers, strategists, social media planners, brand managers, and content production people. They will initially support primarily the Samsung and Smirnoff brands.

To supervise this office, 72andSunny has named Guillermo Vega, former ECD of Wieden+Kennedy São Paulo, as Executive Creative Director of the New York office. Vega  will lead the office along with Managing Director James Townsend, who will be relocating to New York from the Los Angeles office.

While on the west coast, Townsend has worked with brands including Samsung, ESPN, and Truth. Now, on the east coast, Townsend will continue to lead the Samsung brand.

The decision to open a New York branch was based on client need and talent acquisition. Simply put, the New York shop makes it easier for the agency to work with a wider array of clients and potentially hire some of  Madison Avenue’s best and brightest. “We think we’re better for being part of the New York creative community—and we think we can make it a little better by being there,” says Chief Strategy Officer Matt Jarvis.