Moves this week at the AA, Velocity Films, Backyard Productions, HKM, Uber Content, Buck, Mob North, the Syndicate and DZP
Andrew Brown, director general of the Advertising Association, is to retire after more than 13 years. Brown will continue in his role until the end of the year. He joined the AA in 1993 after 28 years as an accounts man and ultimately board director at JWT.
South African production company Velocity Films has signed two young directors - Adrian de sa Garces and Jeana Theron - to its roster. De sa Garces, formerly of Terraplane, has already been confirmed on two jobs with Sony and Audi within a week of signing. Theron makes the transition into directing from Velocity' s research department where she was working with the likes of Keith Rose and Greg Gray.
Backyard Productions has signed German director Jan Wentz for US commercials representation. As well as shooting shorts The Amateur and 7 Years Later, Wentz has directed spots for Mercedes, Nike, Ikea, Siemens and Ford among others.
HKM has signed directors Siraj Jhaveri and Matt Ogens for exclusive US commercials representation. Jhaveri was formerly repped by @radical.media and Ogens was on the roster at Headquarters. Jhaveri started out producing and then directing at MTV, going on to help launch MTV India before moving to Europe. Documentary maker Ogens shot Emmy-nominated ESPN series Timeless and The Life, and has directed commercials for ESPN, Tylenol and HP.
Uber Content has signed director Ramaa Mosley for commercials. She joins from Park Pictures, where she helmed spots for PGA, Adidas, Powerade, Toshiba and Rockport, among others.
Design and production company Buck has signed Stephen Kelleher. He recently wrapped his first Buck project, an animated spot for CiCi's Pizza through Deutsch New York.
Mob North, the Leeds-based office of Mob Films, has signed directing team RAP, otherwise known as ex-creatives Rick Ward and Pete Camponi. The pair, both formerly at Poulter Partners in Leeds, left to set up agency PWLC in 2001 and worked on a variety of accounts including DFS and the Rugby Football League.
The Syndicate, sister company of CafeFX, has hired Ben Grossmann as VFX supervisor and creative director. Originally a photographer, Grossman moved into VFX for features where he has worked on Spiderman, Hollowman 2 and Sin City as well as commercials for brands including Honda, Sony and Jeep.
DZP Marketing Communications has appointed Sandi Harari as its new vice president and creative director. She replaces Brian Diecks, who held the post since 2003. Harari comes to DZP following four years as principal of Harari Design, New York, a boutique design firm concentrating on the film, TV and music industries.
