Bicoastal woman-owned edit house The Den has brought Tania Mesta aboard its editors’ roster.
Mesta was born and raised in El Paso, Texas to Mexican parents making her “both figuratively and literally from the border,” in Mesta’s words. The duality that comes from fully embracing both Mexican and American culture has greatly inspired Mesta’s world view as well as her work. Observing the world around her, blending differing points of view and alchemizing them into a snapshot of the human experience is second nature to Mesta and has proven to be a signature quality of her work.
Mesta’s path to editing began in college, where she majored in film and TV–––and minored in Business and French, a language she speaks fluently. Eventually, Mesta began her editing career at Rock Paper Scissors, then as editor at Lost Planet. Mesta has worked with brands including Calvin Klein, Prada, Kraft, and Instagram.
“What sets Tania apart is her artistic eye and fresh editing style that complements the brands she works with,” said Christjan Jordan, co-founder and editor at The Den. “Her work is complex and visually stunning of course, but her ability to hone in on what emotion is being evoked for the viewer is outstanding.”
“What I like about the medium of film is it can inspire empathy and really immerse you in someone else’s story. If done correctly, a story can build bridges and understanding for the people around us,” said Mesta. Rachel Seitel, co-founder of The Den, added, “Tania joining The Den feels like fate. Not only is she an incredibly talented, driven, and dedicated editor, she is also the perfect person to help us establish and grow The Den’s NYC presence.”
The Den has expanded notably in recent months, adding Vic Palumbo as president and managing director. Mesta joins a talent roster at The Den which includes Jordan, Tobias Suhm, Katie Cali, Michael “Middy” Ofori-Attah, Matthew Hilber, Kate Owen, Andrew Ratzlaff, Nate Cali, and Val Thrasher.
Nikki Baker Becomes CEO At Fallon
Fallon has appointed Nikki Baker as its new CEO. Baker, who joined the creative agency in 2018 and has served as co-chief creative officer with Leslie Shaffer since 2021, succeeds Rocky Novak, who has been in the role since 2019.
Baker’s promotion to CEO comes at a time of significant momentum for the agency, including six consecutive years of growth and award-winning work.
Baker’s recent career highlights include creatively leading the Walmart partnership with the Publicis Groupe team and spearheading innovative campaigns such as the award-winning “RomCommerce” 23-episodic series and the internet-breaking Mean Girls campaign, among hundreds of other campaigns together with the brand over the past few years. Together with Shaffer, Baker has also been instrumental in elevating Fallon’s creative output for longstanding clients like Arby’s, Mattress Firm, and Front Door/American Home Shield.
“I’ve always been an admirer of Fallon, even before I joined. The chance to lead the agency is an absolute honor. Fallon is a place like no other with amazing talent and a legacy of building big, innovative, creative ideas,” said Baker. “Rocky has represented the best of Fallon. He’s been a great leader, and I couldn’t be more excited to take the reins and lead the agency through to the next chapter. With creativity at our core, we’re going to be as ambitious as ever, push boundaries, and continue embracing emerging platforms to deliver work that truly resonates in culture.”
Prior to joining Fallon six years ago, Baker held positions as creative director and art director at agencies including DDB and GSD&M, working with major brands such as McDonald’s, Southwest Airlines, and Wrigley. Her work has been recognized by... Read More