Fink joins M&C Saatchi; Gosling joins Cut + Run/London as managing director; cpf-e/shots Young Directors Award winners join Annex Films; HANraHAN signs David Wynn Jones; Mister Boomboom signs Guzman; Tom Cartier joins Highway 61; Picture Tree launches Alan Irvin's directing career
Graham Fink has joined M&C Saatchi in London as creative director, marking a return to the creative side of the industry after more than 10 years directing. Commenting on the move, Fink said: "Over the past four or five years I've been invited to work with a number of major agencies. This time it's different. I know and trust the people and see many exciting opportunities and potential."
Fink worked at agencies including WCRS and Saatchi & Saatchi before joining the Paul Weiland Film Company in 1995 as a director. In 2001 he set up the production company the finktank, which will continue to operate, with Fink remaining as company director. Fink will also continue to direct ads through the company. He started in his new role at M&C Saatchi last week, concentrating initially on the British Airways brief.
Simon Gosling has joined Cut + Run/London as managing director. Gosling joins the company from Clear, where he was director of the commercial effects division. He will work alongside founder Steve Gandolfi at Cut + Run and oversee all management and marketing of the company.
"Simon Gosling has vast experience in the management of production and marketing for large post facilities," said Gandolfi. "I've always been impressed by his efficiency in handling large projects and his calm and friendly nature. He will be a breath of fresh air within Cut + Run and I'm sure that his enthusiasm and experience will be of great benefit not only to our London branch, but also those in New York and LA."
Annex Films in London has signed director duo Alexander Kiesl & Steffen Hacker, winners at this year's cfp-e/shots Young Directors Awards for their witty test spot for Xbox. This and more of their work can be viewed online here.
HANraHAN in London has signed director David Wynn Jones for global representation. Jones joins the company from Production International. "I am really pleased to have signed David, who is one of the most talented directors in the field of tabletop - foods, liquids, beauty sfx. This type of work never goes out of fashion and there is constant demand for a director who has his level of expertise and professionalism," HANraHAN MD Mark Hanrahan told shots.net.
Mister Boomboom in New York has signed photography and directing team Guzman (Constance Hansen and Russell Peacock) to its roster. The team have worked with clients including Givenchy, L'Oreal, Nike, MTV, Levi's and Tag Heuer. Guzman's work can be viewed online at http://www.misterboomboom.com.
Director Tom Cartier has signed to Highway 61 production company in New York. Cartier has directed spots for NYC2012, Spike TV and Kyocera-Mita, and has just finished his first spot through Highway 61, a three-minute short film to launch the interactive PC game Civilization IV. The film can be viewed online at http://www.civanon.org.
Johannesburg-based production company Picture Tree has signed Grey Worldwide's former executive creative director Alan Irvin as a director. In his first month at the company, he has already directed four spots, including three for Steers burgers and one for Scouts Namibia.
