Hires and exits in Chicago agencies and posthouses

David Selby

David Selby

SCC names new CEO in reorganization

Cubs’ AOR Schafer Condon Carter shuffled their leadership team into new roles effective this month.

According to an agency memo from co-founder, Tim Condon, the changes are attributed to the company’s growth.

“SCC has come of age. And while we’re still a feisty, scrappy group — and always will be — our client list has evolved to larger-scale, higher-profile brands and our competitive set is now the agencies that tend to be in the hunt for those brands. So, it’s important that our structure matches up with our client contacts in the C-suite as well as with our competitive set.”

In one of the first moves, President and partner David Selby will take over as CEO. According to the memo, Condon is leaving that role to become Executive Chairman and Chief Culture Officer.

In addition to Selby’s promotion, he also announced that managing partner, director of client service Gail Carter will become President and Chief Client Leadership Officer and that co-ECD Suzanne Martineau has been promoted to Chief Human Insights Officer with her co-ECD Denny Hebson overseeing the agency creative.

 
We Are Unlimited adds Lou

Strategist James Lou is joining McDonald’s agency We Are Unlimited as its Chief Strategy Officer.

James Lou
James Lou

Lou joins the Omnicom shop from another one, BBDO Worldwide, as EVP, Group Director of Integrated Strategy, he led the strategy on AT&T’s corporate and business solutions division.

Prior to BBDO, Lou was executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Havas Chicago and co-chief strategy officer for Havas North America.

Eric Zuncic, We Are Unlimited’s Chief Strategy Officer, Lou is perfect for the role. “James is that rare breed of strategist who is obsessed with insights and creativity, but fluent in dozens of new data sources that the advertising world is scrambling to keep up with these days. He is the ‘strategist of the future.'”

 
Escape Pod brings in Bottigliero

The Escape Pod it has named Blagica Bottigliero as Director of Social Strategy. In this role, she is charged with overseeing all social media work for the agency’s roster of clients, building out its social capabilities, and bolstering The Escape Pod’s ability to deliver a fully integrated suite of services for fast-growing brands.

Blagica Bottigliero
Blagica Bottigliero

“Blagica brings a unique blend of strategic chops and deep experience as a true social practitioner,” says Escape Pod CEO Celia Jones,. “She has been an avid thought leader since the early days of digital and has always advocated for brands to embrace social, not just as a marketing channel or set of tools, but a vital connection to the real people who shop for and buy their products.”

Bottigliero has stewarded numerous brands into the digital space, from creating websites for Maytag and Purina, to being a founding member of the eMarketing team at Orbitz, to leading social media at Target and Motorola. On the agency side, she led Edelman Digital’s Strategy division, as well as Co-Chairing the Cook County New Media Council and serving as VP of Digital Media at ModSquad, a global outsourcing and customer service company.

“I’m thrilled to join an agency with such incredible momentum and a roster of really innovative brands. What I love about our integrated model is that we have the ability to infuse the craft and artistry of our creative ideas into every media and touchpoint seamlessly—be it a broadcast spot, social campaign, mobile app or Instagram post,” says Bottigliero.

 
Nodelman joins Stone Ward

Huron Street ad agency Stone Ward Chicago announced that they have has Jeffrey Nodelman as Director of Creative Services and Executive Creative Director. He will report directly to CEO and founder Larry Stone.

Jeffrey Nodelman
Jeffrey Nodelman

The plan is for Nodelman to work with Stone leading the agency’s creative teams and video production group, 360 Filmworks and to continue to evolve the agency’s creative product.

Nodelman brings more than 20 years of crafting award-winning creative for having worked on feature films such as Duplex starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore, Disney’s PB&J Otter and Sabrina The Animated series.

Before joining Stone Ward, Nodelman served as VP of Marketing and Media, for ATA International, one of the world’s largest martial arts organizations based in Little Rock. There, he led brand development, content creation, programming, packaging and product design for the organization.
Nodelman was awarded a star on the Disney Animator’s “Walk of Fame” for his work as an Animator/Creative Director.

He also launched, Noodlesoup Productions, one of New York City’s premier boutique animation studios.

 
NoiseFloor promotes intern Salazar

Victoria Salazar has been appointed Sound Editor at NoiseFloor Ltd.

Victoria Salazar
Victoria Salazar

Salazar graduated from Tribeca Flashpoint College in May 2016 with a degree in Applied Science with a concentration in Recording Arts.

After graduation, she spent time working in the Equipment Department at Tribeca Flashpoint and assisting their Summer Camp Program for high schoolers who are interested in recording arts.

Salazar found NoiseFloor Ltd. through the company’s internship program, which she started early last year. During her internship, she won two of the monthly intern contests and took home first place in the Audio Category of the AICE Tent City Competition.

“Victoria has proven herself project after project. She was an easy hire,” says Jamie Vanadia, NoiseFloor Ltd. Owner, Sound Designer, and Mixer.

 
Walton Isaacson and Davidoff part ways

Jeff Davidoff
Jeff Davidoff

Ad agency Walton Isaacson, with offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, has reportedly parted ways with President, Jeff Davidoff. This according to multiple sources, although his picture remains on the agency website. The longtime marketer joined the agency in July 2016 as its first president.

Davidoff did not reply to a request for confirmation from Reel Chicago.

 
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.