Jeff Geheb has been promoted to the newly created role of chief experience officer at VML. With the move, Geheb broadens his remit, extending into design thinking, computer-human interaction, experience design and user experience. He will be the visionary behind VML’s entire global platforms and experiences practice.
In his 15 years at VML, most recently as chief technology officer, Geheb has played a pivotal role growing the agency’s world-class technology capabilities. He has shaped many of VML’s most fundamental client engagements through his balanced understanding of consumers, business and technology. Geheb has diverse experience across clients such as Ford, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft and Sprint.
Geheb has been recognized by Kansas City Techweek’s Tech100 and Ingram’s “40 under 40,” which recognizes emerging leaders in the region. He is also on the KC Tech Council board of advisors.
“VML continues to strengthen our reputation as the leader of marketing that is at the sweet spot of creativity and technology,” said Jon Cook, VML global CEO. “This fusion gives us the unique ability to lead our client partners in transformation across the entire connected consumer experience. The creation of the new chief experience officer role marks a further step toward this goal. Jeff has a superb track record of bringing value to our clients and will continue to be a tremendous steward of our experiences practice.”
Succeeding Geheb as chief technology officer is David Mitchell who has been promoted to that role. Mitchell will oversee the agency’s technology practice across North America and globally, leading technology efforts for the agency’s clients across architecture, software development, quality and technical operations.
Mitchell’s promotion demonstrates VML’s commitment to software architecture, API orchestration and artificial intelligence as keys to unlock the future of the connected consumer experience.
Before joining the agency in 2010, Mitchell led development teams from requirements through delivery on large business-critical systems for multiple Fortune 500 companies in insurance, finance and telecommunications.
Mitchell’s award-winning global team comprises more than 600 people who collaborate with VML strategy, creative and connections to unlock and enable the most powerful ideas. He has diverse experience across VML clients such as Sprint, Ford, Korean Air and Kellogg.
Both Geheb and Mitchell will continue to be based at VML’s headquarters in Kansas City, working across the global network. Geheb will report to Cook. Mitchell will report to Geheb.
After 20 Years of Acting, Megan Park Finds Her Groove In The Director’s Chair On “My Old Ass”
Megan Park feels a little bad that her movie is making so many people cry. It's not just a single tear either — more like full body sobs.
She didn't set out to make a tearjerker with "My Old Ass," now streaming on Prime Video. She just wanted to tell a story about a young woman in conversation with her older self. The film is quite funny (the dialogue between 18-year-old and almost 40-year-old Elliott happens because of a mushroom trip that includes a Justin Bieber cover), but it packs an emotional punch, too.
Writing, Park said, is often her way of working through things. When she put pen to paper on "My Old Ass," she was a new mom and staying in her childhood bedroom during the pandemic. One night, she and her whole nuclear family slept under the same roof. She didn't know it then, but it would be the last time, and she started wondering what it would be like to have known that.
In the film, older Elliott ( Aubrey Plaza ) advises younger Elliott ( Maisy Stella ) to not be so eager to leave her provincial town, her younger brothers and her parents and to slow down and appreciate things as they are. She also tells her to stay away from a guy named Chad who she meets the next day and discovers that, unfortunately, he's quite cute.
At 38, Park is just getting started as a filmmaker. Her first, "The Fallout," in which Jenna Ortega plays a teen in the aftermath of a school shooting, had one of those pandemic releases that didn't even feel real. But it did get the attention of Margot Robbie 's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, who reached out to Park to see what other ideas she had brewing.
"They were very instrumental in encouraging me to go with it," Park said. "They're just really even-keeled, good people, which makes... Read More