Richard Lent, founder and CEO of digital agency AgencyNet, and Ari Merkin, former Crispin Porter+Bogusky (CP+B) executive creative director, have launched brand and digital innovation agency, TEN, headquartered in South Florida with an additional office in New York. Merkin serves as TEN’s chief brand officer while Lent assumes the chief innovation officer mantle.
TEN will focus on ushering clients into what the two founders call, “the era of the ‘Do Brand’.” Combining Ari and Richard’s experience in brand-building and digital innovation, respectively, TEN will ideate, design and develop marketing and IP platforms that enable brands to build lasting relationships with a new generation of consumers. The agency will leverage its strong technology pedigree to create real value in a changing world where dialogue matters more than monologue, where behavior matters more than image, and “do” matters more than “say.”
Merkin brings an 18-year history of brand building to his new role. He formerly served in such capacities as chief creative officer/co-founder of Toy, as well as exec creative director at CP+B and Fallon. Merkin is perhaps best known for his Mini Cooper launch work, “Ikea Lamp” (Cannes Grand Prix Film winner), Office Max’s “Elf Yourself” and Truth’s “Body Bags” campaigns. Merkin has worked over the years with such clients as Starbucks, Virgin Mobile and MetLife. He was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2009 and currently serves on the board of the One Club.
Lent brings his entrepreneurial and digital leadership, as well as the heritage and talent of his own agency to TEN. The AgencyNet moniker gives way to the TEN shingle. During AgencyNet’s 18-year history, Lent has steered award-winning, results-driven work for clients that include Bacardi, Universal Music Group, Nickelodeon and The Bill Clinton Foundation. Lent has been heavily involved in development of the industry, including serving as an expert witness to the U.S. Congress on the digital ecosystem, and co-founding The Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA), now the largest digital agency network in the world.
TEN subscribes to a simple formula for success: Brand Building + Digital Innovation. While traditionally creative teams were comprised of an art director + copywriter, and digital agencies combined a designer + developer, TEN believes that the new creative team = brand builders + innovators. “There’s been some real enthusiasm from clients given the way we’re now structured,” said Merkin. “We’re a digital agency that can solve those big brand problems.”
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More