Michael Derek Keeshan, who worked on such accounts as General Mills, Delta Airlines and Burger King during a successful career tenure at Saatchi & Saatchi before launching consultancy firm MagiKbox, died of a sudden heart attack at his home in Old Greenwich on January 18. He was 60.
Keeshan spent more than 35 years in advertising and marketing. He became one of the youngest presidents and COOs of Saatchi & Saatchi New York, and went on to serve as chief strategic officer for Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide. More recently he was a private marketing consultant focused on idea-driven creative communication via his MagiKbox, which sported a roster of 20-plus clients, with projects for such notables as Vonage and business units of Johnson & Johnson.
The son of TV legend Bob Keeshan (a.k.a. “Captain Kangaroo” of CBS morning fame), Michael Derek Keeshan graduated from Dartmouth College in 1973 and then earned his MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
Keeshan is survived by his wife of 37 years, Lynn, and two sons, Britton and Connor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a fund in Michael Derek Keeshan’s name at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
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Director Lu Villaca Joins MADRE
Production company MADRE has added Brazilian director Lu Villaça to its talent roster. With degrees in cinema and performance and a master’s in screenwriting, Villaça brings a multifaceted approach to filmmaking. Villaça’s tastes have been shaped by her childhood training in ballet, studying Greek theatre texts, her passion for music, and her contemplative nature. She honed her cinematic skills early on as an AD and creative assistant before becoming a director. Intent on capturing the drama of everyday life as it plays out, Villaça is tuned in to how the bodies in her frame move through their environments and what elements of the story can be extrapolated from these compositions. Her sharp attention to detail in every aspect, from lighting to the final edit, is designed to connect emotionally with her audience. Villaça has been awarded three Cannes Lions for her film “Next Minute Law,” which promoted awareness of a law in Brazil designed to address the rampant epidemic of sexual violence. “Next Minute Law” also garnered Best Direction at El Ojo and the Ciclope Latino Festival, where Villaça also won Best New Talent. Additionally, she has directed assorted commercial campaigns for brands like Johnnie Walker, Huggies Wipes, Nestlé, Amazon, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, and a spot for Medley featuring Brazilian Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade. Prior to joining MADRE, Villaca had been repped by production house LOBO. Recognized in Brazil as a top music video director, Villaca won Best Female Direction for her work on “Nu” by Assucena and “Lovezinho” by Rachel Reis, which also won Best National Music Video at the MVF Awards. Villaça additionally co-directed the documentary Pagliacci, an homage to circus artist Domingos Montagner... Read More