NEW YORK-First Edition, New York, has announced several new hires, as well as some promotions. Joining its creative editorial team are Howie Lazarus and his son Matthew, both previously editors at Take Five Editorial, New York, a boutique founded in the mid-1960s by Howie and now-retired editor Jerry Kleppel. Matthew Lazarus joined Take Five in 1982. The principals are winding down Take Five operations as they transition to First Edition.
Also joining First Edition is business manager Amy Lazarus (Howie’s daughter), who held the same position at Take Five. The company has additionally hired a rep, Laura Spivack, who previously repped New York-based Manhattan Transfer. She will handle First Edition as well as its New York-based sister companies, Splash, a visual effects boutique, and Aural Fixation, an audio post unit.
The company also expanded the roles of several managers. Chief engineer Scott Holmgren was made a VP, controller Bob Friedrich was named CFO, and Harry Stoiber, who continues as executive producer of Splash, will be more involved in decision-making.
At Take Five, Howie and Matthew Lazarus frequently collaborated on projects and will continue to do so at First Edition. Among their credits is the well-known "Diet Coke Break" via Lowe & Partners/SMS, New York. Their client list includes Nicoderm, Tums, Castrol, CD-Now, Daffy’s and CarMax.
Howie Lazarus’ body of work includes Alka-Seltzer’s "Stomach," which he cut via now-closed Jack Tinker & Partners while employed at now-defunct Televideo in the 1960s. Howie Lazarus and First Edition president Bobby Smalheiser have known each other since then-Smalheiser was Lazarus’ apprentice at Televideo.
"We have a very small operation," Howie Lazarus said of Take Five, adding that it didn’t make sense to continue investing in upgrades for technology that is changing rapidly. "We’ve known Bobby a long time and have often talked about working together." He also complimented the company’s technological capabilities.
"Few editors have the editorial smarts and personal warmth of Howie and Matthew Lazarus," Smalheiser said. At press time, the new editors were about to embark on nine spots for MCS Canon via DeVito/Verdi, New York.
As for the promotions, Smalheiser said, "The expansion of the responsibilities of these key executives has tremendously improved the day-to-day operation of the company and the esprit de corps of our entire organization. Everyone has a sense of contributing to the success of the mission."
First Edition is also rethinking its finishing process. The company is removing its D-2 suite, with the intention of using its Editbox or Softimage DS systems for that task.
