Chris Wallace has joined AKQA as client partner of media in the San Francisco studio. Wallace has 15 years’ experience in a variety of digital strategy and global client leadership roles focused on data-driven decision making, innovation and business transformation. His track record spans diverse sectors–consumer packaged goods, retail, luxury, finance, insurance, healthcare, education, telecom and B2B.
Prior to joining AKQA, Wallace held leadership positions for WPP in Chicago, London and San Francisco. He has spent the last six years working within the group where he earned his “WPP MBA” while working at Mindshare as head of digital for EMEA, global digital lead on Unilever and CHANEL.
On joining AKQA, Wallace said, “As the opportunities to bring media, data and creative closer together for our clients continues to grow, I look forward to working with an inspiring team to continue to shape this ever-evolving world through the lens of digital.”
Scott Symonds, AKQA managing director of media, said, “As we speed forward into a digital, mobile, and programmatic majority media world, we want to provide our client’s the best in strategy, leadership and communication. Chris’ history of delivering deep audience insights for his clients, leading account teams, offices, and global client relationships for top brands, gives him precisely the skillset that we are looking to future-proof our client team leadership.”
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