Venables Bell + Partners (VB+P) has promoted Brittni Hutchins to associate partner, managing director. In this new role, she’ll continue to drive growth initiatives, oversee client partnerships, support the company’s commitment to creative excellence, and oversee agency marketing efforts. Hutchins will also play a key role in championing VB+P’s guiding principle of “do right by people” (clients, consumers, and employees) in all facets of its business and processes. Hutchins previously held the post of associate partner, chief growth officer.
“We want more of what Brittni does best: she drives our work to have the greatest possible impact for our clients,” said Paul Venables, VB+P founder and chairman. “In her new role as managing director, Brittni will be deeply involved in everything we do as she leads our people, partners with our clients, and shapes and markets our offerings. Brittni having more influence on more aspects of our business means only good things for VB+P and our clients.”
Hutchins initially worked with VB+P earlier in her career as a brand team leader and returned in 2021 as the agency’s head of growth and marketing. In early 2023, she was promoted to associate partner, chief growth officer. She made a tremendous impact in both of these roles, first working with agency leadership to overhaul the company’s growth strategies and then subsequently securing 17 new partnerships with established and emerging brands, including Girl Scouts of the USA, AG1, Bob Evans Farms, Affirm, Opendoor, Peelz, Bay Alarm, Chrome Industries, and PepsiCo brand Off The Eaten Path.
Hutchins has also heavily influenced the agency’s work by spearheading creative initiatives and partnerships that aim to positively affect critical cultural issues and challenges today, including reproductive rights, book bans across the U.S., hate incidents against the AAPI community, and LGBTQIA+ mental health. In her free time, Brittni also founded “Women That Fight (WTF),” a collective of senior women in advertising compelled to take action on current pressing issues facing women.
“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