With the acquisition of a majority stake in Gang Films and the digital studio Merci-Michel, the newly formed Gang Group emerges as a production house led by three partners: Jérôme Lhoist (president), Louis Gheysens (co-CEO), and Thierry Willer (co-CEO). Julien Sanson assumes the role of managing partner, spearheading Gang Group’s expansion within France. Sanson’s 25 years of production experience spans feature films (within the teams of Luc Besson and Europa Corp.) and advertising (Moonwalk Films, Omincom, BBDO Paris, WPP). The current leadership of Gang Films (Jean Villiers and Dimitri Grimblat) and Merci-Michel (Adrien Pin, Antoine Menars, Pierre-François Hagege) will continue to steer their respective entities. Gang Films' history spans over three decades in advertising production, crafting campaigns for markets spanning France, Spain, Belgium and China under the aegis of Villiers and Grimblat. Merci-Michel has turned out high-end interactive experiences since 2012. It’s team consists of some 20 experts who produce digital devices that fuse technological innovation with storytelling inspired by video game aesthetics. The new Gang Group operates across four key areas of expertise for advertisers and agencies–Gang Content, a hub dedicated to creatively producing digital and social content across various platforms for brands, supported by the Story Me studio in Belgium; Gang Films, a cornerstone center focused on crafting advertising formats, drawing on the expertise of Gang Life; Game Interactive, a division led by Merci-Michel that specializes in innovative gaming solutions for brands and institutions, attracting audiences with unique and immersive experiences; and Gang XPR, the “experiences and events” center, serving as a digital activation and events hub that utilizes a spectrum of technologies, from virtual reality to holograms, to create engaging experiences that transcend traditional boundaries. Headquartered in Biarritz, Gang Group will also establish executive production offices in Aix en Provence, and Paris….
Morten Borgestad has joined the directorial roster at Stink. He has collaborated with brands like Paypal, IKEA, Telia, and Nordea, crafting cleverly humorous narratives around relatable situations. His work has garnered recognition from Cannes Lions and Eurobeat, among other competitions. Borgestad’s previous work as an agency creative at Leo Burnett Oslo imbued him with a talent for transforming quirky concepts into vibrant realities. He also cut his teeth as a professional advertising photographer….
