Megan Bundy appointed managing director; Ryan Chong to lead production
Publicis Groupe’s Le Truc has made three key leadership hires: Marcos Kotlhar as partner, chief creative officer; Megan Bundy as EVP, managing director; and Ryan Chong to lead production.
Launched last year, Le Truc is a next-generation creative model which unites 600+ creatives, producers and creative strategists from Publicis Groupe New York agencies into one, dynamic, collaborative team. Kotlhar, Bundy and Chong join the founding partners that form the creative leadership team of Le Truc, including Bastien Baumann, Andy Bird, Publicis Groupe chief strategy officer Carla Serrano, who also serves as president of Le Truc, and Elaine Barker who leads resource management and operations.
Most recently chief creative officer at Ogilvy New York, Kotlhar brings more than 20 years of creative leadership to Le Truc. His focus on making work that is culturally relevant, brought to life through innovation and craft, has re-energized and transformed leading agencies including Ogilvy, BBDO and BBH. His legacy of work has led to relationships and award-winning work with culture-defining brands such as Samsung, IBM, Instagram, IKEA, Nationwide, Pernod Ricard–Absolut Vodka, Zippo and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. His appointment at Le Truc marks a return to Publicis Groupe for Kotlhar, after previously spending two years at BBH New York.
“I’m a firm believer that traditional processes will get you ordinary results. Le Truc’s vision is not only brave and refreshing, it’s necessary,” said Kotlhar. “The opportunity to see beyond silos, work across agencies, and partner with the best talent Publicis Groupe has to offer has me feeling like a kid in the world’s best candy shop.”
Bundy, Le Truc’s first EVP, Managing Director, brings 20 years of experience driving creative and media integration. Most recently, she led the Anheuser-Busch InBev business at FCB New York, along with broader client partnerships and agency business development efforts. Throughout her career, Bundy has worked for leading agencies such as BBDO, mcgarrybowen, and Publicis Media, and has driven award-winning (EFFIE, One Show, Cannes) campaigns for brands including Anheuser-Busch InBev–Michelob ULTRA, eBay, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Crayola.
Chong joins as the founding production lead for Le Truc, and is a modern creative partner and producer who works across teams to develop bold ideas–from inception–through the craft of production. Formerly group production director at 72andSunny, Chong brings nearly two decades of experience working for brands such as Nike, Audi, Virgin Group and AXE/LYNX. He is an award-winning production talent, celebrated at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, One Show Awards and Clio Awards.
“After chasing Marcos for months, we are elated he is finally joining us. He is a natural partner for Le Truc, with his passion for fresh cultural ideas, collaborative process and obsession with craft,” said Serrano. “Together with Megan and Ryan, we approach our first year anniversary of Le Truc with expanded expertise and even greater ambition for the year to come.”
Since launching last spring, Le Truc has been a part of key pitches and campaigns for Publicis–including the TikTok creative win (and “You Have to See It” campaign), work for Samsung (such as the Galaxy S22 launch), and the Planet Fitness win and “Feel Fitacular” campaign and Super Bowl spot.
Jennifer Kent On Why Her Feature Directing Debut, “The Babadook,” Continues To Haunt Us
"The Babadook," when it was released 10 years ago, didn't seem to portend a cultural sensation.
It was the first film by a little-known Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Kent. It had that strange name. On opening weekend, it played in two theaters.
But with time, the long shadows of "The Babadook" continued to envelop moviegoers. Its rerelease this weekend in theaters, a decade later, is less of a reminder of a sleeper 2014 indie hit than it is a chance to revisit a horror milestone that continues to cast a dark spell.
Not many small-budget, first-feature films can be fairly said to have shifted cinema but Kent's directorial debut may be one of them. It was at the nexus of that much-debated term "elevated horror." But regardless of that label, it helped kicked off a wave of challenging, filmmaker-driven genre movies like "It Follows," "Get Out" and "Hereditary."
Kent, 55, has watched all of this — and those many "Babadook" memes — unfold over the years with a mix of elation and confusion. Her film was inspired in part by the death of her father, and its horror elements likewise arise out of the suppression of emotions. A single mother (Essie Davis) is struggling with raising her young son (Noah Wiseman) years after the tragic death of her husband. A figure from a pop-up children's book begins to appear. As things grow more intense, his name is drawn out in three chilling syllables — "Bah-Bah-Doooook" — an incantation of unprocessed grief.
Kent recently spoke from her native Australia to reflect on the origins and continuing life of "The Babadook."
Q: Given that you didn't set out to in any way "change" horror, how have you regarded the unique afterlife of "The... Read More