New signings at New Moon Advertising, Exposure and M-A-D-E, as well as hirings at Saatchi & Saatchi's in London and New York.
New Moon Advertising in London has poached two former Mustard directors, Jeremy Haccoun and Tim Rolt. The directors are reunited with exec producer Jeremy McWilliams, who joined the company from Mustard in May.
Exposure Films in London has signed Thomas Napper and Barney Clay to its directors roster. Napper has recently shot his first job through Exposure, for the Global Fund, while Clay, well-known for his music videos, has completed his first commercial, a short advertising film for Ritz Fine Jewellery, starring Chloe Sevigny.
Norwegian-based directing duo Roenberg has signed to Mark Andrew's production company M-A-D-E. The signing comes as a result of the partnership deal between M-A-D-E and Paris-based Dog Productions, and sees the duo reunited with Andrews, who formerly repped them through Tsunami. Roenberg are in postproduction on their first feature film, Bandidas. Produced by Luc Besson through Europacorp and starring Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek, it is planned for release shortly. More info on M-A-D-E is at http://www.m-a-d-e.net.
BeachHouse Films in Santa Monica has signed director Brandon Kraines. Kraines was previously repped by Group101.
untitled in Toronto has signed director Michael Downing for Canadian representation. Downing recently won two Gold Pencils at the 2005 One Show for his Science World campaign with Rethink/Vancouver. His current reel can be viewed online at http://www.untitled7.com/michaeldowning.
Saatchi & Saatchi in London has hired Brian Connolly as head of art and creative director. Connolly joins from Ogilvy & Mather in London, where he won Creative Circle awards for clients like Castrol and COI. He will be reunited with former partner Paul Domenet, whom he worked with for five years in a previous stint at Saatchi's.
Across the pond in Saatchi & Saatchi New York, Jan Jacobs and Leo Premutico have joined as creative directors. The team were most recently at Saatchi & Saatchi in London.
Finish post studio in London has hired senior visual effects supervisor Steve Murgatroyd to head its second Flame suite. Murgatroyd has been freelancing with Finish for several months, working with Daniel Barber on the recent British Airways commercial Ease for M&C Saatchi and Simon Rattigan on the new Abbey ad for WCRS.
