Andreini named director of integrated production; Baskinger, Christmann join as ECDs; Pilgrim named group creative director
VaynerMedia has made four hires across its creative and production departments, including Bruce Andreini as SVP, director of integrated production, Kim Baskinger and Tom Christmann as executive creative directors and David Pilgrim as group creative director, all based in the New York office.
In their roles, Andreini, Baskinger, Christmann and Pilgrim will collaborate with the department leads in an effort to ramp up VaynerMedia’s highly crafted, innovative work across platforms.
Andreini is a seasoned, award-winning agency production leader. Having spent time at Saatchi & Saatchi, Deutsch and Grey, and, most recently, head of production at New York digital-turned-creative agency Rokkan, Andreini has led campaigns for global brands including Cadillac, Heineken, Walmart, Chase, Google, MillerCoors, Jet Blue, Snapple and Ikea throughout his career.
Baskinger has over 15 years of experience. Baskinger’s work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, Clios, One Show, Effies, Mashies, LIAs and more. Prior to joining VaynerMedia, Baskinger spent time as an executive creative director at Havas NY working across Reckitt Benckiser, and as a creative director at BBDO NY working across Visa, Lowe’s, Starbucks, Snickers, Twix, Campbell’s and Pepsi.
Christmann started in advertising in the 1990s. His Budweiser Super Bowl spot “Heroes Welcome” was nominated for an Emmy award, and he has also won Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, D&AD Pencils, Effies, Clios and an FWA. He is the creator and host of The A-List Podcast, which gathers the origin stories of the industry’s creative leaders. He is also co-dean of Adhouse Advertising School.
Pilgrim began in advertising at Ogilvy and Mather, where he worked on the Merck, Kraft, Post, Seagram’s, Hardee’s and American Express accounts. After frustration with the lack of diversity in the general market milieu, Pilgrim migrated to multicultural marketing at the UniWorld Group, moving into a CCO role at Footsteps followed by freelancing across the multicultural arena on shaping brand tone-of-voice for Lowe’s, Gillette, Diageo, Nissan/Infiniti, Visa and PNC Bank.
The four will work on some of VaynerMedia’s largest clients, including ABInBev, Pepsico, KraftHeinz and ScottsMiracle-Gro. Andreini will report to chief operating officer Marc Yudkin; and Baskinger, Christmann and Pilgrim will report to chief creative officer Rob Lenois.
“Andreini, Baskinger, Christmann and Pilgrim share a collective passion for disruptive creativity, making them the perfect fit for VaynerMedia. We are obsessed with creating consumer centric content that blows up in culture, and this seasoned, adland lineup has what it takes to keep pushing the boundaries,” said Lenois.
“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