• by Fern Siegel , Yesterday

Arnold has hired two new creative directors/senior vice presidents: Curtis Petraglia and Andrew Kong.

The longtime partners arrive from Deutsch LA. Their remit is a primary focus on Progressive Insurance, a veteran agency account.

Petraglia and Kong are known for their work for ESPN, Snapple, Pizza Hut, Google, Amazon and Nike. Their creative has won numerous awards, including Cannes Lions, D&AD and The One Show.

“Andrew and Curtis have been on our radar for quite a while. In fact, I tried to convince Kong to join us like a decade ago, but evidently wasn’t convincing enough,” said Sean McBride, Chief Creative Officer at Arnold. “They’re our kind of people. Relentless about craft, smart, humble and generally a joy to be around.”

The team’s Dr Pepper ads helped turn the brand into part of college-football culture. Recognized by their unique characters — Larry Culpepper to Fansville — Patraglia and Kong expanded the brand’s presence across social and entertainment.

“We’ve always gravitated toward ideas that give you somewhere to go, where there’s a clear voice and world, but still space to find something new,” said the do. “Arnold has that in spades, along with a team that clearly cares about continuing to push the work. Arnold was a very easy place for us to get excited about.”

Headquartered in Boston, the Havas-owned agency has offices in New York, London, Shanghai and Toronto. Arnold’s creative also includes Norwegian Cruise Lines, De Beers and PNC Bank.