Four have been added to the ranks of Oakland-based agency Funworks: Jiangzi Tan (Tanny) as sr. art director, Kevin Turner as sr. copywriter, Claire Crozier as sr. account director and Nicole Dongara as account director.
Tan was sr, art director at both mcgarrybowen and Argonaut, working with Intel, Disney, and Fitbit. Turner joins from Oakland agency EVB as sr. copywriter, where he worked with a range of clients like Jameson Irish Whiskey, Pandora and the LA Clippers.
Crozier previously built her management career at Collinson, eventually becoming the global account cirector. For a decade, she collaborated with financial services, airline, hotel and retail brands, helping shape their loyalty initiatives, customer benefits and reward programs.
Dongara most recently worked at BBDO, managing communication planning and campaign development for American Girl, Barbie and Fisher Price. Before that, she worked at Havas, driving ROI for condom brand Durex and helping to lead a successful holiday communications plan for eBay.
Attracting talent into the shop, said Funworks CEO Paul Charney, is a natural result of the success of its improv-inspired Funworkshops, a method for clients and creatives to quickly generate great ideas. “This rush of new talent is a signal that people are eager to explore new ways of collaboration,” he related.
The extreme collaboration Funworkshops include clients, agency staff, and comedian consumers who act as a neutral third party. Workshop exercises get to truths and strategies in a relaxed, positive environment, helping to gain alignment from all decision makers on the best ideas. According to Funworks, the resulting work is sold on the first round 90 percent of the time, far outperforming the traditional creative process.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More