KBS has appointed Keith Butters as its global chief technology officer. Butters, who is best known for having co-founded The Barbarian Group, will be responsible for the integration of KBS’ deep technical capabilities within the agency’s creative product, which spans the gamut from fully integrated campaigns to technology innovation to major platform builds.
KBS maintains an in-house team of developers, product experts and engineers, who build platforms and digital experiences for clients including BMW, Windstream, Stanley Black & Decker, and Hershey.
“The tech and innovation part of KBS globally is substantial and growing fast. We’re delighted to have a leader of Keith’s talent, substance and humanity to help drive the whole agency forward,” said KBS global CEO Guy Hayward. “We now have a leadership team with enormous creative credentials and a proven ability to build agencies.”
Global chief creative officer Patrick Scissons echoed Hayward’s sentiments saying, “As innovation and tech continue to become more and more important across our global network–from our office in London which was awarded an Innovation Lion at Cannes to New York where we have had many creative opportunities for clients like eSight and Answer ALS–the goal is to bring together storytelling and technology in a way that feels fresh and emotive. Keith’s addition to the KBS Global Creative Council will help us to accomplish that.”
During his time at The Barbarian Group, Butters worked with clients including Volkswagen, PepsiCo, Burger King, Kashi and Nike. He specializes in applying design thinking to technology, digital media and marketing. He has also played an instrumental role in the creation and growth of the creative coding library Cinder, which was awarded the first ever Cannes Lions Innovation Grand Prix.
On joining KBS, Butters said, “I chose KBS because of their amazing leadership team, the existing creative and technical capabilities of the business, their appetite for both traditional and non-traditional work, and their enormous potential energy to do great work across multiple mediums.”
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More