Translation has elevated art director/CD Matthew McFerrin and copywriter/CD Armando Samuels to group creative directors, in the first of a series of internal promotions across the agency’s creative and strategy departments. McFerrin will partner with recent hire, group creative director Achilles Li, to oversee the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Champs Sports accounts. Samuels will take the lead on Translation’s State Farm account, handling all creative aspects of the business, including the company’s NBA marketing campaign, and the ongoing State Farm Neighborhood Sessions music series. Plans call for Samuels to partner with a new member of the Translation team, to be announced in early 2016.
McFerrin originally signed on with the Translation team as a sr. creative in early 2014, following nearly three years as an art director and then sr. art director at Sid Lee. McFerrin has lent his artist’s eye to national and global campaigns for the likes of Absolute Vodka, adidas, Sprite and Major League Soccer.
Samuels first joined Translation as a sr. copywriter, quickly rising to the rank of creative director. Prior to joining Translation, he held sr. copywriter and copywriter positions at Deutsch and TBWAChiatDay LA—where he served as the lead writer for the agency’s award-winning Pepsi Max “Test Drive” campaign. Samuels has helped to deliver creative executions for global brands like adidas, PepsiCo, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and the Coca-Cola Company.
John Norman continues as Translation’s chief creative officer.
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