Joanna Young joins as chief strategy officer, Arnel Kasmally as head of customer engagement
Three senior team members have been added to Garage Team Mazda (GTM): chief creative officer Steve Chavez, chief strategy officer Joanna Young and SVP, head of customer engagement Arnel Kasmally. GTM is a WPP integrated team agency founded in 2010 in partnership with client Mazda.
“WPP is a creative transformation company. As we help Mazda to navigate the increasing complexities of the customer journey and their own brand transformation into the premium space, we evolve our model and enhance our offering and capability,” said Michael Buttlar, WPP Mazda global client leader and GTM CEO. “We are confident that Steve, Joanna and Arnel’s experience and leadership will help Team Mazda bring the best of WPP to our successful partnership with Mazda.”
Chavez’s work has been honored at the ANDY Awards, ADC, Cannes, Clios, D&AD, Epicas, Effies, The One Show and The Webbys, among others. Chavez most recently led and owned creative agency North of Sunset, and was previously the CCO for Leo Burnett in Detroit. At Burnett, Chavez contributed Buick’s “A Human Kind of Luxury.” The campaign targeted a younger, more civic-minded audience and, in one year, doubled excellent opinion scores to help Buick become the fastest growing major automotive brand with 85% sales increase for 16 consecutive months. He also lead an all-new NCAA promotional platform and media partnership securing rights for Buick as the “Official Sponsor of Human Achievement.” Chavez has proven himself as a creative leader and strong storyteller with a long career at top agencies such as Doner, Saatchi & Saatchi and Ogilvy & Mather.
Kasmally brings a wealth of digital and technology experience as a marketing leader and WPP veteran, previously working at Essence Media, Geometry Global, Y&R and Ogilvy supporting brands such as BMW, MasterCard, American Express, Dell, Nestle, Time Warner, Marriott and Google. He joins GTM from the Mobile Marketing Association, where he was managing director, head of digital. In his new role, Kasmally will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of customer engagement including technology platforms, social, digital advertising and CRM.
Young is GTM’s first ever chief strategy officer. She comes to the agency with a strong background in marketing, advertising and the automotive and luxury sectors. Young began her career as a strategic planning analyst at Hyundai/Kia in Orange County and then spent 10 years in New York as group planning director at Havas, followed by a stints at Lowe and mcgarrybowen. She joins GTM from Team One where she served as management director, strategic planning. Young oversaw brand strategy for The Ritz Carlton/St. Regis hotels, PIMCO and Lexus. She has an abundance of experience dealing with prominent luxury and premium brands.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More