Fabio Costa has been named global chief creative officer for Commonwealth//McCann, the global advertising agency of record for Chevrolet, General Motors’ largest brand.
Costa joins Commonwealth//McCann, part of the McCann Worldgroup family, from Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles, where, since 2016, his work has won six Cannes Lions, 35 Clios and five One Show Pencils for Toyota and other blue-chip global clients.
“Fabio was our first choice to take on this role. He is an amazing creative talent and leader with a wealth of global cultural and business experience,” said Grant Theron, CEO and GM global business lead, Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG). “And the timing is perfect. The Chevy brand is on a roll–it was the fastest-growing mass market auto brand in the country in 2022.”
Costa began his advertising career at Y&R in Brazil. He spent six years as a creative director at AlmapBBDO Brazil, moved to San Francisco as a CD at Ogilvy One and TBWAChiatDay SF and then shifted to Ogilvy’s Paris office in a similar role. He moved to The Martin Agency, where he sparked a digital renaissance and drove award-winning work for GEICO, BF Goodrich, Mentos and the JFK Library Museum. His next role was at TBWAChiatDay LA, where he served as global creative lead on Adidas and as the U.S. lead on Netflix, Disney and Miller Lite. During his four years at TBWA, his work was recognized by D&AD, Cannes Lions, The One Show and the Clios.
Costa noted “I am thrilled to join Commonwealth//McCann and to work on Chevrolet, one of the greatest brands in the world. The level of creativity in the Chevrolet brand across so many global markets, and the way in which Chevrolet drives culture, make this a dream opportunity for me.”
Theron added: “This is a transformative time for Chevrolet. And transformative times demand transformative leaders, which is why Fabio was the perfect choice for this job. The addition of Fabio completes a full transformation in the leadership of our agency. With Belinda Leworthy leading North America as president, Joanna Young leading our strategy team and Fabio as CCO, we are positioned to take Chevrolet into an exciting next 100 years.”
Theron also announced that Matt Canzano, global markets CCO for Commonwealth//McCann, will take on additional responsibilities, partnering with Theron on IPG creative initiatives across the General Motors account.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More