Independent agency 22Squared has hired Toygar Bazarkaya as chief creative officer. Bazarkaya comes over from Optimist where he was global chief creative officer. His industry experience spans multiple world class agencies including BBDO, DDB, Mullen, Havas and Jung von Matt. He has contributed to the growth and success of brands including Mercedes-Benz, Visa, P&G, McDonald’s, Dos Equis, Wrigley, Campbell Soup, HP, Nike and Amazon. Bazarkaya’s work has been widely recognized within the industry and beyond; he’s won awards at every major show including The One Show, Clios, D&AD and Cannes where he’s received over 30 Lions.
“Bringing in a chief creative officer that can galvanize the teams and push us forward has been a priority for us this year,” said 22Squared CEO Erica Hoholick. “Toygar brings a proven history of creative excellence and an agile approach that will elevate our team and grow our business.”
Bazarkaya said, “22Squared brings the high-touch service only an independent agency can offer at the scale of a network agency. It really is the best of both worlds. The agency is special–it has great fundamentals, is 100% employee owned and has put together an amazing team.”
The agency was behind the successful repositioning of Baskin Robbins last year delivering record growth for the brand, and work like “Invisible Hate” for the NAACP which was recognized by Cannes Lions. The agency has fully embraced remote work and has continuously attracted top executives and over 15 new clients in the last two years.
“There is no way an agency thrives for over 100 years without having a vision for the future. I can’t wait to continue this tradition and take the agency to new heights,” said Bazarkaya.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More