Barbarian, a digital creative agency backed by Cheil Worldwide, has entered into a global alliance with sports business executive and media personality Jay Williams. Barbarian will align with Williams to build out its lifestyle and entertainment expertise at the agency.
“Jay brings his deep knowledge of the media landscape and personal experience on culture and diversity,” said Barbarian’s CEO Steven Moy. “We decided to align with one another, as Jay can act as a strategist, advisor and think tank incubator for us to accelerate the customer experience in new ways. This collaboration is about how Barbarian will elevate what consumers see, hear, feel and buy across touchpoints.”
Williams will serve as a chief entertainment and lifestyle advisor at the agency, working with Moy and his leadership team to identify new areas of investment in order to drive business growth. Williams is already strategizing with the agency on projects that will be announced in the coming weeks, including with a Fortune 100 CPG company and a well-known DTC lifestyle brand.
“From the first time I set foot in Barbarian, I was inspired by the agency and the team,” said Williams. “Barbarian has a unique perspective on how creativity and technology are shaping the future. Building a customer journey is similar to creating a rich fan experience; now is the time for brands to pivot their buying journey for an even more intimate connection.”
Moy said this model will be vastly different from that which has other celebrities and influencers act as ceremonial “creative directors,” a common practice in the fashion and lifestyle industry.
“First and foremost, Jay is a Barbarian. His experience working as a professional athlete,sportscaster, brand ambassador, cultural icon, and an investor will be invaluable. With Barbarian’s creative and technical expertise and Jay’s experience, Barbarian can now double down on building our footprint in the lifestyle industry,” related Moy.
The partnership is effective immediately, with Williams having already joined the Barbarian team virtually earlier this month.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More