R/GA has named Kim Laama as its VP, executive creative director after a short sabbatical from her role as group ECD at R/GA New York. Laama will lead a growing team of designers and creative technologists to strengthen the product and service design capability with a focus on the office’s future-facing commerce and activation expertise. She’ll also work closely with SVP, managing director Tara Moss to drive innovation and growth for current client partners Nike, McDonald’s, MasterClass, and The British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA).
“We’re thrilled to have Kim return to R/GA helming our creative practice in Portland, where we’ve done some of our most notable work with adventurous brands like Nike and McDonald’s,” said Tiffany Rolfe, R/GA global chief creative officer.
Ben Williams, R/GA chief experience officer, added, “Kim is an exceptional creative who understands how to create relationships between people and brands through thoughtful and innovative experience design.”
Laama returns to R/GA after a one-year sabbatical. Previously, she was part of the creative leadership team overseeing Samsung, Equinox and Johnson & Johnson, among others, at R/GA New York. Laama was pivotal in leading key projects, while establishing and fostering an experience and design focused creative team. Prior to R/GA, Laama led brand experience initiatives at AKQA while growing talent and building diverse, inspired, and collaborative teams. In her tenure at AKQA, Laama established and grew the company’s product design practices in San Francisco and New York, co-created New York’s D&I program and led creative work for Audi, Nike, Soho House, Verizon, Volvo, and Xbox.
R/GA Portland’s recent work collaborations include Nike’s sixth season of its PLAYlist episodic series, as well as the brand’s Game Growers series, both of which were geared at kids and the benefit of making sport a daily habit. The office also drove the design innovation build for McDonald’s corporate digital ecosystem.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More