Kristen Bedard Johnson joins New York-based Lively Group. Bedard Johnson’s diverse expertise in film production, talent management, post-production and live entertainment will support her new role in managing sales for Lively Group, as well as creating the groundbreaking division of Lively Experience that will serve to create meaningful brand relationships both on and offline.
Bedard Johnson began her career in the theatre world before transitioning into advertising. Most recently, she spent three years as Head of East Coast Sales and Development for Furlined. Prior to Furlined, Bedard Johnson acted as East Coast Sales Rep for New York-based VFX studio Gravity, and held the same position for global production studio @radical.media.
As the media landscape has evolved, Lively Group has consistently readjusted their multidisciplinary DNA, assembling the right teams and tools to offer clients the most effective creative solutions across various platforms. In her new role, Bedard Johnson will be poised to offer the breadth of services provided by the Lively Group network of companies – creative editing company BlueRock; design and animation studio Spontaneous; luxury, lifestyle and fashion specialists Scarlett; finishing house Ballistic; and digital partner Rain – in a combination of infinite possibility.
“The fit with Lively Group is natural and effortless for me,” remarks Bedard Johnson. “With our combination of world-class capabilities and talent, we’re able to create a cohesive brand story across visual and experiential platforms in one fluid, collaborative process. With the resources of the group behind us, Lively Experiential can take the seed of an idea and make it grow to infinite heights.”
With Lively Experience, Bedard Johnson will be working with celebrated artists from outside the traditional advertising space to create narrative brand experiences that engage the consumer in an innovative, authentic and profound way.
The arrival of Bedard Johnson is the latest move for a company with adaptation and reinvention at its core. Recently Spontaneous hired branding expert Darryl Mascarenhas in the role of Executive Creative Director, and BlueRock added accomplished editor Jim Helton and rising star J.P. Damboragian to their award-winning roster.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More