James Cooper has assumed the newly created role of chief creative innovation officer at JWT New York. Coming over from Saatchi & Saatchi New York where he was integrated creative director, Cooper will oversee JWT NY’s creative in the digital space and seeks to further expand the agency’s footprint in this area. Cooper will report to David Eastman, JWT North America CEO and worldwide digital director, until a chief creative officer is named.
At Saatchi, Cooper led JCPenney’s “Return to the Doghouse” and Wheaties’ “The Most Valuable Tweeter” campaign. Prior to that, the 15-year industry veteran helped Dare, London, grow into prominence as a digital agency.
Co-Presidents
Additionally Eastman has named two co-presidents of client services at JWT NY: Beth-Waxman Arteta is being promoted from her role as group business director on Microsoft and John Baker is joining the agency from Iris Worldwide effective Nov. 1. These are newly created roles.
Waxman-Arteta joined JWT in 2005 and has shepherded such campaigns as the lauded “Ford Bold Moves” which was JWT’s earliest “Brand Journalism” success story. She helped pitch win and grow the Microsoft business for JWT. Along the way she launched Microsoft Office 2010 and took on the search category with Bing. Additionally, under her watch JWT’s “Brand Journalism” efforts won a Titanium Lion at Cannes this year.
Before tackling Microsoft, Waxman-Arteta pitched and won Macy’s. She developed the co-op star designer program during that pitch. It continues to be the center of the “Magic of Macy’s” brand campaign. From there she developed what every retailer hopes for–an evergreen holiday idea in “Believe.” Her energy and passion for the brand’s entertainment heritage resulted in the critically acclaimed new holiday TV special Yes, Virginia which was extended into brand franchise opportunities including a children’s book, a Thanksgiving Day parade balloon and other licensing opportunities. Yes, Virginia was also a winner at Cannes this year.
As co-managing director at Iris, Baker built its digital practice from the ground up. He established the agency’s management structure, set up the subsidiary P&L, recruited a full client services team and led the business to profitability. Under his watch, Iris won Hertz and the commercial piece of the Volkswagen business. Baker was promoted at the end of 2009 to oversee Iris’ Americas’ clients and offices. In that role, he led the Microsoft Xbox Kinnect social media launch at E3, and developed programs for Coty and Nautica. His extensive experience encompasses posts at OgilvyOne London, Organic and Modem Media.
Disney Pledges $15 million In L.A. Fire Aid As More Celebs Learn They’ve Lost Their Homes
The Pacific Palisades wildfires torched the home of "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the father-to-be's newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking at a neighborhood in ruin. "Your heart just breaks."
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog and they watched on security cameras as the flames ripped through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
"There's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening.' What good is it to continue watching?' And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like 'What good is it to continue watching?'"
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the heavy winds that fanned the flames as numerous groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from the Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by a connection to his "This Is Us" character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. "It's not lost on me life imitating art."
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia's wife on "This Is Us," nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which scorched large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house is standing but is unlivable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson's home is "completely gone," his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday while appearing on Joe Rogan's... Read More