The Mill Chicago has named Carl Phillips to serve as managing director, Andrew “Drew” Doman as deputy managing director and Jay Bandlish as executive creative director.
Phillips joined The Mill in Chicago as head of production from The Mill’s London studio where he had a successful tenure as VFX producer. In addition to managing the day-to-day of the production team and studio, Phillips has diligently nurtured relationships with some of the studio’s largest clients including Leo Burnett, DDB and We Are Unlimited. As managing director, he will apply his breadth of knowledge to support The Mill clients in the Midwest.
Doman joined The Mill in 2016 as commercial manager. Previously working at EY in their advisory practice, he consulted with Fortune 100 clients including Caterpillar and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Doman has driven the development of strong client relationships in Chicago and around the Midwest. In addition to his new role as deputy managing director, he will continue to lead commercial functions and will take a broader role in leading operations for the Chicago studio.
Bandlish has been with The Mill for nearly two decades. Starting out in London, he moved to Chicago in 2016. Over the course of his career, Bandlish has partnered with notable directors and agencies, constantly adapting to the industry’s ever-changing demands, while always pushing for the highest quality work. In his new role as executive creative director, he will oversee key projects and spearhead new initiatives to increase the breadth of studio’s creative output.
Robin Shenfield, The Mill’s CEO, said, “Our team in Chicago is constantly evolving to better service our clients, by both expanding the team locally and calling on the breadth of The Mill across NY, LA and London. Carl, Drew and Jay complement each other well to form a team capable of leading the studio to the next level.”
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