Stephanie Seligman Balint has been named the new East Coast Executive Producer at Synthetic Pictures. Balint joins Synthetic’s management team led by founding director Justin Corsbie and West Coast and Austin, Texas EP Allison Smith.
Most recently Balint was EP at design and animation company Scout. Now back in live-action, she will work closely with Synthetic’s diverse roster of directors. Balint got her start on the agency side as a producer before making the leap to the production company side, taking the role of head of production at Chelsea Pictures.
She then launched the New York office for A Band Apart, where she worked closely with feature directors as they transitioned to commercials, including Steve Buscemi and Tim Burton.
Balint also brings to Synthetic extensive experience in international production, the result of years working with Palma Pictures in Spain. Recognition for Balint’s work includes a Gold Lion for her work for Staples while with Industrial Artists.
“Justin [Corsbie] and I both have a long history with New York City, and we felt that we needed someone who was a natural extension of us to help expand our presence there,” noted Smith. “Stephanie fits the bill and brings such a vast level of connections and expertise to the table.
Active in commercials, branded content and filmed entertainment, Synthetic Pictures maintains offices in L.A., Austin and New York City.
Droga5 Appoints Emma Montgomery As Global Chief Strategy Officer
Creative agency network Droga5 has appointed Emma Montgomery as global chief strategy officer. She is the third global appointment for the agency this year, with Pelle Sjoenell named worldwide chief creative officer this past March, and global CEO Mark Green recently appointed this fall. Montgomery will be responsible for connecting and supercharging Droga5’s strategy and creative offerings globally. She will be based in its headquarters in New York City.
“Emma is a world-class strategic leader and authority that I’ve long admired and dreamt of being partners-in-crime with,” said Sjoenell. “Her work inspires the creativity that connects people and brands in ways that move business and culture forward, so I’m excited to finally be able to work with her alongside Mark, and to see her lead and further strengthen our leadership and strategy teams around the world.”
Montgomery joins Droga5 after serving as CEO of DDB Chicago. She’s been in the industry for over 20 years, and has served in several high-level leadership positions throughout her career, including as president and CSO of Leo Burnett Chicago, global CSO of TBWA, and CEO of Leo Burnett Australia. She’s also worked across a breadth of categories and multiple global clients such as Kraft, Aldi, Diageo and Molson Coors, among many others, including challenger brands and startups.
“I’m excited to join Droga5 and have the opportunity to help carve out a new path for the brand globally, building on its tremendous legacy of creative leadership,” said Montgomery. “The potential of Droga5, combined with the possibilities of Accenture Song, was too exciting to pass up. No other agency has what they have, and as marketing shifts, the chance to make creativity a genuine... Read More