Moves this week at Y&R, Streetlight Films, Believe Media, Sway Studio
Young & Rubicam has promoted Hamish McLennan, chief executive of Young & Rubicam Brands in Australia and New Zealand, to the position of new worldwide CEO. McLennan succeeds former CEO Ann Fudge, who remains as worldwide chair and CEO of Y&R Brands. McLennan joined Y&R in 2002 from George Patterson Bates in Melbourne, where he held the role of national managing director. McLennan had formerly held top jobs at Bates offices in Hong Kong and Sydney.
Streetlight Films has signed directors Gerald McMorrow and Olaf Wendt. McMorrow joins Streetlight from Lucky Elliot, but before that he was with 400 Films. The move reunites him with new head of music videos Athene Parker, with whom he worked at 400 Films. Wendt has joined the roster on the back of his short film Performer. Wendt's background began in design and art direction of games titles before he moved into design and VFX.
Believe Media has signed snowboarding and skateboarding filmmaker and writer Rob "Whitey" McConnaughy for exclusive representation in the US and UK. McConnaughy has not previously been represented for commercials and music video work in the US. He has shot a series of skateboarding spots for Wieden + Kennedy in Portland and also contributed to the MTV series Jackass.
Los Angeles based Sway Studio has taken on Michael Pardee as executive producer. He joins from Digital Domain, where he had served as head of production since 2003. Pardee has worked with a host of directors including Rob Cohen, Filip Engstrom, David Kellogg and David Fincher.
