Global creative company Sid Lee has finalized the core of its leadership team in the U.S. with the addition of Melissa Palazzo-Hart as chief operations officer and Nirm Shanbhag as chief strategy officer.
Palazzo-Hart brings over 20 years of experience building, scaling, and optimizing businesses and brands. Most recently as managing director of Eclipse Advertising, she piloted the organization’s creative division. Prior to that, she served as president of entertainment and advertising agency Ant Farm. She also held leadership positions at Ketchum Public Relations, USA Network, Miramax Films and Sony Pictures.
Shanbhag’s role prior to joining Sid Lee was as principal at Notch Strategy, a boutique strategy shop he founded six-plus years ago. He earlier was managing director at Interbrand for which he built a West Coast presence by creating an experiential studio. He also worked with such ad agencies as MullenLowe and McCann Erickson.
Palazzo-Hart and Shanbhag round out a U.S. leadership ensemble at Sid Lee which includes: USA CEO Andy Bateman; Jeff Alpen, managing director, Seattle and New York; Nicolas Van Erum, managing director, L.A.; and Cam Levin, chief creative officer.
On the account front, Sid Lee has just become the global agency of record for performance workwear brand Dickies, following the new U.S. business win of simplehuman, a designer and manufacturer of tools for efficient living. Sid Lee’s creative partner roster also includes Warner Bros. Games, FC Cincinnati, Marvel, TNT’s Snowpiercer, lifestyle hospitality company SBE, and Cartessa Aesthetics, a disruptive aesthetic device company.
“Our expansion in the U.S. is born from our understanding of what clients need from their creative partnerships. Since joining our collective, Andy has attracted top-tier talents and together they’re reshaping Sid Lee in the U.S.A. to be a forward-thinking, digital-first creative company. The team has been able to quickly create critical momentum that’s resonating across our entire collective,” stated Bertrand Cesvet, CEO of Sid Lee Group.
Sid Lee has bases of operation in Montreal, Toronto, Paris, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. clients. Sid Lee is a member of kyu, a collective of top drawer global creative companies including IDEO, SYPartners and Digital Kitchen established by Hakuhodo DY Holdings, the second largest agency network in Asia.
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragon’s two wins were for “The Red Dragon and the Gold” episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the “Part Six: Far,l Far Away” episode of Ahsoka.
The HPA’s Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: “Celebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.”
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More