WPP has acquired a majority stake in SET Management, LLC (SET Creative), a brand experience agency based in Portland, Ore., with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The deal allows WPP to grow its Branding and Identity group already comprised of retail and brand consultancy, FITCH, and global brand agency, Brand Union.
SET was founded by Sabina Teshler, who was recently selected with only 12 others in the U.S. for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program. Teshler and SET’s management team, including president and chief strategy officer Alasdair Lloyd-Jones and COO Kurt Kujovich, will report to Simon Bolton, co-leader of WPP’s branding and identity division.
SET was born out of a Nike relationship in 2009 focused almost exclusively on production in retail. It has since broadened well beyond production to include strategy, creative, digital and design. Its client roster includes Nike, Jordan, Arc’teryx, BMW, Fab.com, Google Glass, Red Bull, Uniqlo, and Victoria’s Secret PINK.
To strengthen its capability in live events and expand its offer into Europe, SET recently acquired Flourish, a best-in-class live experience agency based in London, and with clients including Google, Bentley and BP. Effective immediately, the London-based entity will be renamed SET Live, concentrating on events, exhibitions and environments. The U.S. offices continue to operate under the SET brand name.
Bolton, group CEO of WPP’s branding and identity agencies, FITCH and Brand Union, will also oversee SET and SET Live. “SET creates world class physical and digital brand experiences, making it an ideal partner to Brand Union and FITCH,’ said Bolton. “The three agencies provide a complementary set of services, from brand strategy, to retail, design and events, collectively creating a roadmap for agile omni-channel brands.”
Teshler said the new relationship with WPP “will enable us to support our clients across a wider international footprint, as we continue our mission to create world class physical and digital experiences for brands.”
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More