VFX studio MPC has added three key senior staff members to its Los Angeles team: David Hoogenakker as head of business development; Jeff Werner as head of production; and Meghan Lang as executive producer. The company has also promoted Mike Wigart to EP of MPC Creative. Furthermore, MPC LA will relocate from Santa Monica to a bespoke space in Culver City early next year.
Hoogenakker joins from TBWA/Chiat/Day LA. He brings over 25 years of industry experience working as a sr. producer with notable advertising agencies, production companies and multi-national brand clients such as Nissan, Infiniti, Gatorade and Pepsi. As EP, Lang will focus on the studio’s color division, bringing 13 years of industry experience that are a well-rounded mix of live-action production, VFX, editorial, business development and talent management. Most recently, Lang worked closely with top directors and production execs as an EP at Furlined. Prior to that she was a principal at Stable 7/Scout, a brand and talent management firm. As head of production, Werner will draw from a well-honed expertise in production and 3D from studios such as Method, where for the past five-and-a-half years he was digital studio manager. Prior to that, he was head of 3D at Asylum and a key creative executive there for nearly 13 years.
Wigart served as MPC LA’s deputy head of production prior to being promoted to EP of MPC Creative, the company’s content production arm. He will focus on original content, live action, motion graphics and VR. Prior to joining MPC, Wigart was a producer at Method Studios.
A former bookbinding factory, MPC LA’s new Culver City facility will be home to the company’s Advertising activities and an expanded Film pre-production team. It will be remodeled as part of an open plan space by MPC’s go-to architect Bruce Bolander and reflect brand extension also seen in the MPC Advertising location in New York.
Graham Bird, MPC Advertising’s global managing director, related, “It’s the right time for MPC to change its location and expand the team in L.A. These changes will reflect the needs of our business which today sees us partnering clients on VFX and experiential projects as well as wide ranging innovative creative technologies such as VR and AR. Culver City with its new transport links [the Metro Expo line] and more central location makes complete sense.”
MPC also maintains facilities in New York, London, Vancouver, Bangalore, Montreal, Amsterdam, Mexico City and Shanghai. MPC’s credits include VFX for such features as Terminator Genisys, Godzilla and Guardians of the Galaxy, and ad campaigns for Samsung, Coca-Cola, Nike, Sony, Intel and Dell, among assorted other brands.
Nikki Maizel Named President Of Publicis New York
Nikki Maizel has been hired as president of Publicis New York. She reports to Carla Serrano, global chief strategy officer of Publicis Groupe and CEO of Publicis New York.
Maizel brings more than two decades of leadership experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the head of business leadership and managing partner at McCann New York, where she transformed the agency’s business and growth strategies while shaping its culture and employee training infrastructure, receiving numerous accolades during her tenure.
“Our industry is at a pivotal moment, with clients seeking partners who can challenge them to innovate, impact their bottom line, and move faster than ever,” said Serrano. “Our ‘Power of One’ approach, embodied within Publicis New York, allows us to offer integrated solutions that meet these demands. We’re thrilled to welcome Nikki, who has a proven track record of growing businesses globally, building best-in-class teams, and elevating collective offerings to clients.”
Maizel said, “Publicis Groupe has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable. I’m excited to collaborate with our partners and teams to set our clients apart. Publicis New York is the engine behind ‘Power of One,’ the unique model of the future that combines cross-agency capabilities, so I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join and help shape what’s next for our clients and teams.”
Maizel becomes the latest Publicis New York appointment under Serrano’s leadership. Last year, Publicis New York named Patrick White as its chief strategy officer, and welcomed Joe Mongognia as its chief creative officer.
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