Partners + Napier has promoted SVP Mike Baron from group creative director to executive creative director. Since joining the agency in 2005, Baron has been instrumental in building the Partners + Napier health and wellness vertical, while redefining and reshaping the agency’s in-house content studio.
In his newly expanded position, Baron will continue to oversee creative work for the agency’s growing health and wellness vertical, while playing a key role on the agency growth team and the operations team. He will also look to strengthen and expand the content studio to meet the ever-evolving needs of agency clients.
“Since the very early days of the agency, Mike’s personal creative contributions have helped shape our product, and his leadership style will continue to help us write our future,” said Sharon Napier, CEO and founder of Partners + Napier. “Mike’s love for this business is contagious. He inspires everyone around him to push their limits and do their best work.”
Baron’s work as a writer, creative leader and commercial director over his 14 years at the agency has helped build a creative culture of excellence. Baron’s work for Less Plastics UK claimed two Silver and two Gold ADDY Awards at this year’s regional event, where he also took home the Best of Broadcast Award. In 2018, his work for the African Conservation Foundation was recognized in Lurzer’s Archive, and his work for Highmark Health won bronze and gold Effies in the North American Effie Awards — catapulting Partners + Napier to Effie Worldwide’s Top Most Effective Individual Agencies in North America.
“We’ve proven that great work can be done for any brand — in any industry,” said Baron. “I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a group of amazingly talented and passionate people, and I’m excited to see what we can do next.”
Prior to joining Partners + Napier, Baron spent time at Hill Holliday, Young & Rubicam, Saatchi & Saatchi, Crowley Webb & Associates and Eric Mower and Associates. He has worked on some of the best-known consumer brands as well as household names in healthcare and financial services, including PepsiCo, Delta Vacations, Capital One, Highmark Health, M&T Bank, TJX Corporation (Marshall’s), and Citibank Corporation.
Eleanor Adds Director Candice Vernon To Its Roster For Spots and Branded Content
Director Candice Vernon has joined production house Eleanor for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She has already wrapped several jobs at Eleanor, which waited to announce her until they had a body of work together.
Via Eleanor, Vernon made history as the first Black director on a Febreze commercial. The “Small Spaces” campaign marks a major departure from Febreze’s typical blue-and-white world. The home of the “Revolving Door” commercial is a beautiful array of bold sunset hues, African prints, and African art.
Vernon said, “I asked myself, what feels right to me? What feels new? I wanted to bring an essence of not just Black Americans but the full diaspora. I wanted to make a statement that we’re not a monolith.”
Following the success of the “Small Spaces” campaign, Febreze brought Vernon back for a comedy-infused trifecta exploring the hilarious situations that call for an air freshening hero.
Febreze Brand VP Angelica Matthews said, “About two years ago, we realized the consumers that were the most loyal to Febreze were the African American consumers. And the more we learned, the more we realized the richness that we were really missing. So we said we have to go beyond just Black casting, we need to get Black directors that truly understand the culture that truly understand how to bring authentic performances out on screen. We really looked around the industry and noticed there’s actually a shortage of African American directors who have experience doing commercials. When we all saw Candice’s reel, we could all tell the passion for the craft, passion for really trying to help us from where we are to where we’re trying to go.”
Vernon brings a unique lens to... Read More