VML has made three promotions and a new hire in its creative department.
Kelly Durham has been promoted to executive producer of integrated production. Since joining VML in 2015, Durham has played an instrumental role in delivering some of the agency’s best-produced work including for Gatorade. Her role will focus on managing and elevating the broadcast work done by VML Chicago. Durham will report to Tyler Smith, head of production.
In addition to Durham’s promotion, Susan Hatten has been hired as a senior producer for the integrated production team, working on Pepsico. Hatten will be producing projects for several brands including Gatorade and Tropicana. She started her career in Kansas City, working for Valentine-Radford before moving to Chicago and later joining Ogilvy & Mather where worked as a senior content producer for the past 11 years. She has been a producer on nearly every national and global account at Ogilvy – producing shoots in more than 22 countries. Susan will relocate back to Kansas City to be based out of VML’s global headquarters. She brings a vast array of production and art buying knowledge to her new role. Hatten will also report to Smith.
Derek Clark has been promoted to executive creative director leading Tennessee Department of Tourist Development work and the recently won Electrolux / Frigidaire business. Clark joined VML in 2015 as group creative director of the Gatorade team. Clark has worked on multiple award-winning advertising campaigns including one of the original branded Snapchats with the G Dunk filter takeover during the Super Bowl. The work received five Cannes Lions, including gold, silver, and bronze, across a variety of categories. Clark will report to Debbi Vandeven, global chief creative officer. Prior to VML, Clark worked with several agencies including Leo Burnett, mcGarrybowen, and Cavalry.
Rob Romine has been promoted to group director, experience design. He joined VML in 2008 and has lead the experience design for clients such as FordPass, Common Wealth Bank of Australia, Korean Airlines and Electrolux focusing on eCom, user-centered design for mobile, web and retail experiences. Romine reports to Chris Wallen, managing director, experience design.
Kamala Harris Receives Chairman’s Prize At NAACP Image Awards
Former Vice President Kamala Harris stepped on the NAACP Image Awards stage Saturday night with a sobering message, calling the civil rights organization a pillar of the Black community and urging people to stay resilient and hold onto their faith during the tenure of President Donald Trump.
"While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the oval office nor by the wealthiest among us," Harris said after receiving the NAACP's Chairman's Award. "The American story will be written by you. Written by us. By we the people."
The 56th annual Image Awards was held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in the Los Angeles area.
Harris, defeated by Trump in last year's presidential election, was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as vice president. She had previously been a U.S. senator from California and the state's attorney general.
In her first major public appearance since leaving office, Harris did not reference her election loss or Trump's actions since entering the Oval Office, although Trump mocked her earlier in the day at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Harris spoke about eternal vigilance, the price of liberty, staying alert, seeking the truth and America's future.
"Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy and ask 'What do we do now?'" Harris said. "But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before. And we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, mobilize. We educate. We advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path."
Other winners of the Chairman's prize have included former... Read More