On Friday, McDonald’s AOR We Are Unlimited announced that former FCB Chicago SVP/ECD, Max Geraldo had been tapped to serve as Executive Creative Director. Joining him is Bruno Guimaraes, who left DigitasLBI Chicago to serve as Creative Director.
Both creatives will report to the agency’s Chief Creative Officer Toygar Bazarkaya. These are Bazarkaya’s first hires since joining the agency two months ago, and builds out the creative leadership team.
Geraldo has over 50 Cannes Lions to his credit including the Mobile Grand Prix.
“Max is the real deal,” Toygar Bazarkaya. “His ability to think beyond specific channels is unique.
“Bruno is also very talented,” he added. “I am excited that our new agency model allows us to attract the best in the business.”
Geraldo hails from Brazil, where he started his career at TBWA and won his first lion. He went on to work at other Brazilian shops including JWT, Almap BBDO and DM9DDB. He arrived at FCB FCB Chicago in 2016. Over the past two years alone, he has won 20 Cannes Lions.
Prior to joining Unlimited, Guimaraes worked at Fallon London, FCB Chicago and Ogilvy New York.
Matt Blitz joins DDB Chicago
DDB Chicago announced last week that SV/EP Matt Blitz has left Leo Burnett to join the crosstown rival in the same position.
With more than twenty years in the business, Blitz offers cross-platform experience that has garnered global recognition and attention. He will report to DDB Chicago’s Chief Production Officer, Diane Jackson.
Blitz’s arrival supports the agency’s commitment that DDB Chicago’s Chief Production Officer Diane Jackson and Chief Creative Officer John Maxham have made to cultivating a creative team of inventors, storytellers and artists.
“With creative talent at the heart of our business model,” said Jackson, “Matt will have the opportunity to create a meaningful impact on our client’s business.”
Blitz, who won seven lions at this year’s Cannes Festival of Creativity for Samsung’s Ostrich, has received accolades across every major award show including Art Director’s Club, D&AD and the One Show.
Prior to joining the agency world, Blitz worked as assistant director on several films and multiple television series, giving him a sense of production not usual to most advertising producers.
Avital Pinchevsky joins FCB
FCB Chicago welcomed Avital Pinchevsky as senior vice president, executive creative director. She leaves Leo Burnett, where she served in the same capacity on the Kellogg’s brands.
Pinchevsky will lead creative decisions on the Cox Communications accounts while reporting directly to FCB Chicago CCO, Liz Taylor.
“Avi is an incredible creative whose global experience, unique point of view, and fearless leadership make her a powerful force in our industry” Taylor said in a statement published in AgencySpy. “I am beyond excited to have Avi join us at FCB Chicago.”
Pinchevsky’s previous roles include Creative Director with CP+B Boulder, where she worked on the launch of the Xbox One and JELL-O, and Creative Director with Johannesburg agencies DDB South Africa and MetropilitanRepublic, where her accounts included Pepsi, McDonald’s and Target.
Pinchevsky’s arrival is the latest in a series of hires since Taylor joined the agency from Ogilvy & Mather Chicago last September.
Among them are EVP/ECD Ecole Weinstein, SVP/ECD Lisa Bright, and former Burnett creative team John Regan and Tor Lemhag, who helped make the Van Gogh Airbnb campaign.
Follow Colin Costello on Twitter @colincostello10.
