Former executive VP, group creative director at Deutsch LA
Jason Elm has been appointed chief creative officer of DDB California. In this role, Elm will lead the California creative department and will be responsible for all its output. He reports to Mike Harris, CEO of DDB California.
Elm fills the CCO role previously held by Lisa Bennett who became executive VP, creative at DDB North American in January.
Prior to joining DDB, Elm served as executive VP, group creative director at Deutsch LA, where he oversaw all Diamond Foods brands, such as Pop Secret, Emerald Nuts and Kettle Brand Chips. Most recently, he helmed the Sony PlayStation account for five years.
A Los Angeles native, Elm joined Deutsch in 1998 as a copywriter and was a key part of the agency’s culture and growth for 15 years, penning ads for clients including Expedia.com, Coors Light, DirecTV, California Milk Advisory Board and Mitsubishi. Elm began his career with stints at Southern California agencies including Bozell and Lois/Colby.
Elm is well known for having personally created the Twitter feed for PlayStation’s @TheKevinButler, which became the most-followed brand character on Twitter. His California Cheese “Happy Cows–Sprinkler” spot was voted “Best of SuperBowl XXXVIII” by CBS, and the PlayStation “To Michael” film was awarded in Cannes, The One Show, D&AD and Clios.
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