Energy BBDO ends 80 year Wrigley Bldg. tenure Friday

ENERGY BBDO ON FRIDAY moves out of three floors at the 410 N. Michigan Wrigley Building, after an 80 year tenancy begun by its predecessor agency, to updated new offices south across the river at 225 N. Michigan Ave.

Friday will be a work-at-home day for the agency’s 250 staffers while the physical move takes place.  On Monday they will report to their home on the entire 15th floor and part of the 14th floor of the modern glass and steel high-rise. 

As Energy BBDO president Tonise Paul said, “We’re a different agency today and we’re designing for the future.”

Backstory.  New York-based BBDO came to Chicago in 1979 when it bought Arthur Meyerhoff & Associates, which was hired in 1932 as the advertising company for Wrigley gum.  The agency was renamed Energy BBDO in 2005.

DRAFTFCB WILL MOVE from the Foote, Cone & Belding building at 101 E. Erie at the end of 2013 into five floors at the Hancock Center, according to agency spokesperson Melanie Perez.  The Interpublic Group-owned agency – second to Leo Burnett in number of employees – has occupied the building since Draft and FCB merged in 2006.

The updated, more collaborative environment will include IPE divisions ID Media and small agency Rivet.  Employees will be invited to give their input as to their ideal working space as plans get underway with Larry Berger of New York-based TPG Architecture retained to design the agency’s new offices. 

Backstory. The FCB part of Draftfcb dates back to 1873, with the Lord & Thomas agency which became Foote, Cone & Belding in 1942, the original “Mad Men” of its day. 

Draft began as direct marketing agency Kobs & Brady in 1978 and was acquired by Ted Bates Worldwide.  Howard Draft became chairman/CEO of Kobs & Draft in 1988. It was renamed Draft Direct Worldwide through a management buyout in 1995 and Interpublic bought it the following year.

BEST OF THE MIDWEST film awards made eight filmmakers recipients happy at the Midwest Independent Film Festival’s recent last screening for the year at the Landmark Century Theatre.

The feature “Liberal Arts” scored tops with best picture and best director awards to Josh Radner.  Winner of the best short was “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” directed by Julia Reichert and Stephen Bognar and best music video, “Moonbeams,” directed by Sam Macon.

Best actress, Susan Messing and best actor, T. J. Jagadowski for “Close Quarters;” best cinematography, Carlo Besasie, “The Wheel” and best screenplay, Brian Jun, “Joint Body.”

WHO’S NEW.  Ogilvy brought in two high powered senior executives for its Social@Ogilvy division. Lori Dicker is executive VP/group director and Liz Taylor was named SVP/executive creative director. Dicker brings more than 10 years experience in developing social media programs for some of the entertainment industry’s best known brands. 

She comes from Moxie/ZenithOptimedia in L.A. where she was SVP/digital media innovation for multiple 20th Century Fox divisions.

Taylor’s position is a new one that will drive digital and creative program development. Previously, she had freelanced in digital strategies for O&M, Razorfish, DDB and others and had been CD at Tribe DDB.

FOR A HYUNDAI WEB VIDEO, Sonixphere created an edgy step soundtrack for the Chicago office of Innocean USA, a global agency headquartered in Seoul, Korea. “This video is about connections and connecting,” says Sonixphere CEO/CD Greg Allan.

“We wanted the music to be that cohesive force that tied all the images and supers together and left viewers with a strong visceral feeling.  The fast-paced 2-minute 360 branding video is featured on the agency’s website www.innoceanusa.com

“The agency creative team knew what they wanted; we just had to execute it and execute it well,” Allan says.

FACETS ANNUAL WAREHOUSE SALE Dec. 15-16 is where you will find literally thousands of DVDs and VHS tapes of films from small and independent labels and popular favorites from major studios at welcome discounts up to 90% off.  At Facets multi-media lobby, 1517 W. Fullerton, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

 “SOUND OPINIONS AT THE MOVIES” – the world’s only rock ‘n’ roll talk show – screens “The Graduate,”  the 1967 Mike Nichols’ film classic with a pop soundtrack chock full of Simon & Garfunkel selections, at the Music Box, Thursday, Feb. 13.  

The Chicago Public Media show is co-hosted by acclaimed pop music critics Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune and Jim DeRogatis of WBEZ.org and airs on more than 100 radio stations around the country.

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