• by Staff Report , August 2, 2013

Sausalito, CA-based Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners makes great ads for brands like MINI, Columbia Sportswear and Google, but it also makes a great working environment for the people who create those ads, according to Outside magazine, which rated it one of the “best places to work” for the third year in a row. The annual ranking, which recognizes companies that achieve a standard for a “healthy work-life balance,” is part of a year-long selection process. In its own press release announcing the “three-peat,” BSSP said “it’s little surprise,” and cited such outdoorsy company initiatives as fielding 19 participants in the “Escape from Alcatraz” triathlon, including CEO Greg Stern.

"Making this list is a huge endorsement of the culture we have worked hard to create, nurture and maintain, where employees come first and we focus on smart solutions for our clients and career development opportunities for our people," stated an undoubtedly breathless Stern, whom if we read that correctly, actually put his clients second. No wonder he runs so fast.

The Devil Made Him Do It

In June the tabloids had a field day—a number of them actually—after ad legend Charles Saatchi was caught on camera putting estranged wife and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson  in what appeared to be a chokehold. Afterwards, Saatchi claimed the incident was just a “playful tiff.”  The devil you say. It was hard to tell from Nigella’s pained expression where the fun part was for her. Now London’s Jealous Gallery has commemorated the scene with the unveiling earlier this week of a life-sized statue of a devilish but dapper-as-always Charles—red skin, horns and all—extending his hand out as if to choke someone.  Nigella isn’t featured in the piece of work, but the message is clear. The pair are no longer estranged—the divorce was finalized Wednesday in a proceeding that took all of 70 seconds according to The Guardian. 

When Is Running North America A Promotion From Running The World?

On Madison Avenue, of course. Just one year after he joined SapientNitro as global executive creative director, the shop has promoted Gary Koepke to Chief Creative Officer of the North American continent.

Citing “significant contributions” and “involvement” in SapientNitro’s efforts to “redefine storytelling for an always-on world,” Worldwide Chief Creative Officer Gaston Legorburu explained Koepke’s geographic reassignment, noting he would continue to serve as a key member of the agency’s Global Creative Council.

Koepke, who joined SapientNitro from Modernista, noted that his team likes ot say, “that next happens here.” What’s next for Koepke? CCO of the U.S.?