Denise Esterkyn joins shop as head of talent
Marla Ulrich and Denise Esterkyn have joined DDB San Francisco as, respectively, head of production and head of talent. Both Ulrich and Esterkyn become members of the leadership team at DDB S.F., a shop that’s part of Omnicom Group Inc.
Ulrich will be responsible for transforming and accelerating DDB S.F.’s production model. As head of production, she will oversee DDB S.F.’s integrated production team and manage the agency’s in-house production studio. Most recently, Ulrich was a creative producer for Anomaly on campaigns for Google and Budweiser, among others. In connection with DAVID The Agency, she produced Coca-Cola’s global broadcast campaign for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as well as a holiday spot for the brand.
Ulrich taps into a worldwide network of talent and artistic inspiration to create truly integrated, cross-disciplinary content. Known for shunning silos and traditional divisions of labor, Ulrich views each project holistically, integrating platforms, departments, continents and media. “In my experience, creative is only ever as good as the production,” Ulrich said. “I think it’s notable that a traditional agency is giving me the chance to lead their production department with a modern approach.”
Esterkyn will lead recruitment and oversee talent development for DDB S.F. She has a 20-year career in human resources and recruiting. Esterkyn has worked in San Francisco’s ad industry for the past 15 years (five of which were spent as an HR consultant for Bay Area agencies), Esterkyn is well known in the local creative community. Prior to that, she was the San Francisco director of the Miami Ad School, where she managed and grew the school’s reputation on the West Coast.
The hiring of Ulrich and Esterkyn follows DDB’s recent business momentum on the West Coast and advances president and CEO Todd Grantham’s plan to expand DDB San Francisco’s capabilities and talent. In July 2016, Grantham named Kevin Drew Davis chief creative officer of DDB San Francisco. Ulrich and Davis will work closely to design a production process that capitalizes on efficiency and maximizes creativity. Most recently, Energy Upgrade California selected the agency to be its lead marketing partner.
Davis said of Ulrich, “She’s worked in a variety of environments, from large-scale global productions to lean digital projects. Marla brings knowledge and a skill set to DDB that will integrate our production and creative capabilities even further.”
Brand New School Extends Reach Internationally Via Partnership With Animation Studio BRUT
Brand New School (BNS) has entered into a strategic partnership with BRUT, a Barcelona-based animation studio. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in BNS’s expansion strategy, with BRUT serving as its inaugural global outpost.
Under the leadership of executive creative director Martin Allais, who will now be represented by BNS for directorial ventures, BRUT joins BNS as part of its collective roster. This partnership combines BNS’s established reputation for innovative creative work with BRUT’s expertise in diverse artistic techniques, including 2D cel animation, stop-motion, 3D animation, and seamless integration of live action.
With Allais leading BNS Spain, Brand New School is expanding its reach to serve a growing network of global clients. This partnership incorporates BRUT’s fresh methodology of working and diverse pool of talent to create content that resonates across cultures. Located in the heart of the European market, the new BNS location will further support and enhance its work with international clients, broadening its ability to meet their unique needs. This partnership represents a thoughtful blend of creativity and expertise, designed to strengthen and grow Brand New School’s global presence.
BRUT was founded by director Allais as an experimental incubator for innovative ideas and techniques. He is also a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx heritage who brings a wealth of creative experience to the partnership. His portfolio spans commercials for global brands like Oreo, Facebook, Samsung, and Dr. Pepper, earning accolades including Cannes Lions for his work on the Samsung Holiday campaign. Recently, Allais’ animated VR experience capturing New York City’s punk scene in the ‘70s, narrated by... Read More