New signings at Exposure Films/HSI, Crossroads, Tomboy, and more; Big hirings at WCRS, Leo Burnett and M&C Saatchi...
Exposure Films and HSI have signed director Jaci Judelson for UK and US representation respectively. Judelson began her career working on the beauty pages at Vogue and since becoming a director has shot documentary and image films for leading fashion and publishing companies including Ralph Lauren, Vogue (Paris), GQ, Allure and H&M. She has also shot commercials for clients including Gap, France Telecom, Volvic, Evian and Mercedes-Benz.
Broadcasting and advertising director Paul Schneider has signed to bicoastal Crossroads Films and New York-based Crossroads Television. As creative director of Chicago-based Digital Kitchen, Schneider worked with clients including Budweiser, Nokia and Target, as well as developing promo material and title design for TV shows including Sex and the City and Nip/Tuck.
Tomboy Films in London has signed three new directors for commercials: Mike Figgis, of Leaving Las Vegas and Timecode fame; Pavel Pawlikowski, who recently won the Best British Film Bafta for My Summer of Love; and Sheree Folkson, who directed the BBC drama Casanova.
Director Damien O'Donnell has signed to 2AM Films in London. O'Donnell is acclaimed for his features work on movies including East Is East, Heartlands and Inside I'm Dancing. This is the first time he has been repped for commercials in the UK.
Production company Les Producers in Paris has signed French directors Frederic Puigvert-Fabren and Pascal Dash and Dutch director Jeroen Mol for commercials representation.
Compulsive Pictures in New York has signed Swedish director Henrik Hallgren. Hallgren's spot Hamster for Sprite was shortlisted in the 2004 Cannes Lions festival, and he is currently working on a six-spot campaign for IKEA.
Will Orr has joined WCRS in London as managing director. Orr joins the company from Mother where he has been a senior strategist since 2003 running the Boots, Observer and SkyBet accounts. He previously worked on Orange at WCRS from 1996 to 2000.
M&C Saatchi has poached the president and co-creative directors of Leo Burnett Paris, Gilles Masson, Antoine Barthuel and Daniel Fohr, to lead its new Paris agency, which will launch in September 2005. The new company will be called M&C Saatchi GAD, and the new management team will join as soon as they are free to do so.
Billy Mawhinney has joined Leo Burnett as creative director. The move sees the end of a 27-year relationship between Mawhinney and JWT London, and marks the fourth time he has left the agency. His decision to leave comes after John Donnelly, his copywriting partner, left the agency at the beginning of the year.
Editor Tracy Hof has joined FilmCore Editorial in Santa Monica. Hof has been working as a freelancer for the past few years and has cut spots for Gatorade, Toyota, the US Army, and Ross.
Fiona McKenzie has joined CK Publicity as a senior account manager. McKenzie joins the company having previously worked for Channel 4 and Polhill PR and has also written extensively for trade and national newspapers.
