Beginning July 18, Dave Damman, currently interim global executive creative director for Commonwealth IPG overseeing the Chevrolet business, will become chief creative officer and co-president of agency Grupo Gallegos.
And effective immediately, Andrew Delbridge, currently chief strategy and engagement officer for Grupo Gallegos, adds the title of co-president, partnering with Damman to shape and run the agency’s growth and operations, as well as its creative output.
Announcing the two new agency positions was John Gallegos who remains in his role as founder and CEO, continuing to lead and set forth the vision for the agency.
“Grupo Gallegos’ new face of leadership is proof that our vision resonates with the top talent in our industry,” said Gallegos. “The U.S. consumer landscape is changing; we now live in a ‘polycultural’ world, and what’s most important is having the right balance of sensibility and capability to help our clients grow their businesses. Dave and Andrew’s proven track record in both the creative and strategy sides of the business will help us be fearless and focused as our client relationships and assignments continue to evolve.”
A highly awarded creative with a portfolio of breakthrough work for brands like Subaru, Lee Jeans, Timberland, BMW, Holiday Inn, United Airlines and Pepsi, Damman has held several agency leadership roles throughout his 20-year career. Prior to his stint at Commonwealth, Damman served as chief creative officer and managing partner at Carmichael Lynch, at the helm of the agency’s double-digit growth over a five-year period. While at Carmichael Lynch, Damman also launched the successful Carmichael Collective, the agency’s incubator that encourages employees to create for creativity’s sake. He has also held various roles within Fallon and Saatchi&Saatchi.
“The independent, entrepreneurial spirit of Grupo Gallegos, and the holistic vision that John and his team all share for the future of advertising made accepting this position a no-brainer for me,” said Damman. “I am energized to co-lead an agency that focuses on creatively driven work for brands.”
Delbridge, an Australian native, joined Grupo Gallegos in 2012 as chief strategy and engagement Officer, overseeing the planning and engagement departments. Under his leadership, Delbridge realigned Grupo Gallegos’ work to align with client needs. He ramped up the agency’s digital capabilities, which led to the agency recently being named digital and social agency of record for Hass Avocado Board. Before Grupo Gallegos, Delbridge was chief strategy officer at McKinney where he built the agency’s strategic offering from the ground up. He has served in various senior strategy roles around the globe in his more than 20-year career, including at Publicis, Mojo, and BBDO Clemenger.
“This is an exciting era for Grupo Gallegos as we evolve the agency to reflect how the U.S. consumer marketplace looks,” said Delbridge. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with John, and now Dave, to ensure we are constantly solving clients’ problems through brilliant creative with strategic underpinnings.”
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More