John Norman, currently executive creative director at Wieden+Kennedy’s (W+K) Amsterdam office, will join The Martin Agency in February as chief creative officer.
During his first year with the Richmond-headquartered Martin, Norman will share the CCO title with Mike Hughes, president of the agency.
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Hughes. “I’m planning to remain as president of the agency for as long as our clients will put up with me. And I’ll stay in the creative department as long as John wants me there. That said, all of our creative directors, writers and art directors will report up to John from his first day at the agency.”
During the course of two stints at W+K, Norman created notable work for Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Nike, Tanqueray Gin, Electronic Arts, Nokia, Heineken and Honda. Among his notable credits is the lauded Coke spot “Happiness Factory.”
“It’s been an incredible experience working with the talented international team at Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam,” said Norman. “Making the decision to leave was not easy, but I could not pass up the opportunity to work alongside Mike Hughes and [CEO] John Adams at one of the best agencies in the U.S.
Norman, 43, a native Texan, has a range of experience that extends well beyond W+K. He earlier served as a graphic designer for Nike in Oregon, a design director for Benetton in Treviso, Italy, and a director for Benetton’s Fabrica creative laboratory. As a group creative director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco, he helped develop the acclaimed “+HP” campaign (with its “Picture Book” TV spots) for Hewlett-Packard.
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More