VMLY&R has promoted Rafael Pitanguy to deputy global chief creative officer. In this newly created role, he will be based in New York and work directly with global CCO Debbi Vandeven. Pitanguy will lead creative for Coca-Cola. In addition, he will continue to look after creative for the agency’s Brazilian market on key accounts.
“Rafa has been celebrated on the most respected global stages for his ability to push our agency and brands to do high-impact, positive work for both business and the world. This promotion is a testament to the leadership and creative vision he brings to everything he does, and we’re thrilled to celebrate his continued growth with VMLY&R,” said Vandeven.
With a career spanning more than 20 years, Pitanguy arrived at VMLY&R (then Y&R) in 2016 and has since transformed the agency into a force in Brazil and worldwide. VMLY&R Brazil was named Cannes Lions Agency of the Year for two consecutive years, in the tracks For Good (2021) and Entertainment (2022).
Earlier this year, Pitanguy received top honors for the agency’s work with Greenpeace Brazil in “Los Santos +3ºC,” imagining a climate-impacted Grand Theft Auto. In 2021, Pitanguy took home Brazil’s first-ever Glass Grand Prix for Starbucks’ “I Am.” VMLY&R Brazil was also named Agency of the Year at Effie Brazil and won the Grand Effie.
A graduate from PUC-Rio in advertising and publicity, and from UERJ in language and literature, Pitanguy previously served as creative vice president at Africa, and worked at both TBWA and Fischer in Portugal. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading brands such as Vivo, Visa, Via, Colgate, Ambev, Itaú, Santander and Dell. In his free time, he works as a screenwriter and has had a feature film pre-selected by the Sundance Festival. He is also a teacher at Miami Ad School and is a Conar Board Member.
Sleyman Khodor has also been promoted to deputy CCO in Brazil, supporting Pitanguy in the market. Khodor has worked with major domestic and global sponsors such as Brahma, Budweiser, O Boticário, Itaú, Santander, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Nissan, Marisa, Vivo, Claro, and Oi–and has won the market’s top awards, among them, Lions in Cannes, Grand Effie, D&AD and One Show.
Khodor built his career in many of Brazil’s largest ad agencies: he was a copywriter at Africa, JWT (now Wunderman Thompson), AlmapBBDO, and Talent Marcel, where he was creative director. In 2020, he was creative leader at Lew’LaraTBWA, becoming one of the key names in the agency’s transformation process. In March of this year, he joined VMLY&R as executive creative director and now takes on the challenge of becoming the agency’s deputy CCO, leading a team of more than 125 creative and production professionals alongside Pitanguy.
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