San Francisco independent advertising agency Duncan Channon is adding some firepower to its creative team to address recent client additions. It has appointed John Kovacevich as executive creative director.  Kovacevich joins the agency after three and a half years as a freelance creative director and writer, working directly with brands like Facebook, Airbnb and Google, as well as with agencies including 215McCann and Mekanism. His career includes stints at Goodby Silverstein & Partners and FCB West.   “John’s creative talent impressed immediately, and is rooted in a deeper understanding of our clients’ business challenges,” said Michael …

In Good Co is appointing Amanda Noviello as the brand consultancy's “director of production, AKA: head of making shit happen.” As the consultancy’s roster grows and client requests are becoming bigger and more complex, Noviello is tasked with bringing product management skills and order to the process. Most recently she was senior production manager at On Board Experiential Marketing. Earlier she held production roles at Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences and 180LA.  This unique title reflects the agency's individualism, which also allows its talent to work remotely and offers unlimited paid vacation for the consultancy’s full-time staffers.  “People, internally …

New York-based Merkley+Partners, part of Omnicom Group,  has hired Tara Nolan as director of business development. She will be primarily responsible for agency business development as well as managing the Merkley+Partners brand. Nolan effectively replaces Rob Moorman, who served as CMO for the agency for the past 10 years, departing the agency in September - he currently remains as a consultant for the business. Nolan previously served as the director of global brand and business development of the MullenLowe Group network, following the merger of Mullen with Lowe and Partners in 2015.  Earlier she worked on the new business and …

Havas agency Arnold has appointed Zamile Vilakazi as its new executive vice president, head of integrated production. A Boston native, Vilakazi will be based in the agency’s headquarters in Boston, working alongside chief creative officer, Icaro Doria, to help drive the agency’s creative output and to foster collaboration within the production and creative teams.  Vilakazi’s appointment follows the recent additions of Guy Lambert, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, and Lucia Ferrante, chief financial officer, last month, as well as two new executive creative directors--Max Geraldo and Fred Saldanha--who joined the agency earlier this year.  For the past …

Several agencies are bolstering their creative ranks with new faces. Creative veteran Vanessa Fortier is joining Mono as the Minneapolis-based agency's first-ever executive creative director, starting October 22.  Her addition is designed to enable the agency's leadership team to help position the agency to better meet today's evolving landscape. For the past 15 years, Mono's creative department has been run by two of its three founders, Michael Hart and Chris Lange, who operated as managing creative director.  Although both will still be heavily involved in creative –– now splitting the role of chief creative officer –– they will lead from …

R/GA has appointed Rob Campbell to the role of executive strategy director for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. He will work from the shop’s London office where he’ll be leading the growth and expansion of R/GA’s strategy practice.  Campbell joins from Deutsch in Los Angeles where he most recently served as chief strategy officer. Earlier he led Wieden + Kennedy’s planning department working with clients such as Nike, Spotify, Corona, Chrysler, P&G, Mondelez, and Delta.  In his new role, Campbell will help the EMEA strategy department infuse creativity, culture, and technology into the work for R/GA’s growing roster …

Chicago-based independent ad agency Laughlin Constable has hired Lisa Bennett as its chief creative officer. Bennett arrives at LC from TM Advertising in Dallas where she has spent the past three years as chief creative officer.  Prior to joining TM, she was North American creative lead for DDB Worldwide and chief creative officer of DDB San Francisco.  Bennett joins LC during an growth spurt for the agency. In the last two years it has been awarded AOR responsibilities for nine clients including Yuengling, Milwaukee Bucks, Fleet Farm, World Finance and ASPCA.  “The last few years have been exciting for LC …

Forsman & Bodenfors (F&B) is hiring creative duo Jordan Chouteau and Cerra Buckholz to serve as group creative directors at the company’s New York headquarters.  The team will lead creative efforts for top clients such as Diageo, Dean Foods, Boar’s Head, and World of Hyatt reporting directly to Mike Densmore, president, F&B New York. Chouteau, formerly with Mother and 180LA  and worked with brands including Google, Kraft, Virgin Mobile, Adidas and Sony.. Buckholz,  who previously served at CP+B and AKQA, has  worked on brands including Google, K-Y, Oreo, Facebook, Xbox and Kraft.  F&B was acquired by MDC Partners in 2016 …

Critical Mass, part of Omnicom’s DAS division, has appointed Charlotte Diaz, vice president, strategy director. She is tasked with leading strategy for the agency’s New York clients and reports to global chief strategy officer, Grant Owens.  Previously Diaz served as strategy lead at co:collective, director of business transformation at RGA, Engagement, manager at Vivaldi Partners Group, and senior consultant at Bridge Strategy Group.  According to an agency rep Diaz is the fifth major hire in the U.S. since June. Other recent hires include two executive creative directors, a vice president of talent acquisition, and an account lead for BMW.  

Interpublic’s Deutsch has elevated Kelsey Hodgkin to Head of Strategy. Based in Los Angeles, she will lead strategic planning for all clients serviced out of the agency’s office there.  Hodgkin joined Deutsch in 2014 as executive vice president/group strategy director, leading strategy work for marquee clients across the agency’s LA  roster including Target, Tarana Burke’s #MeToo movement and Tile’s first advertising campaign which won two Bronze Lions at Cannes.  Hodgkin, a native of the UK, brings more than 15 years of strategy experience to her new role. She has worked in three different countries and …