DDB

Near the bottom of the world lie the Falkland Islands, a South Atlantic archipelago made up of over 700 individual islands.

Two of the Falklands’ major resources are landmines and wool, the former due to a 150-year ownership conflict between Argentina and Britain and the latter due to a surfeit of sheep. In fact, very few informational materials about the Falkland Islands exist outside of those focusing on either the war or on the islands’ diverse wildlife. That’s why two American documentary filmmakers, Vern Cummins and DDB Chicago associate producer Jamie Gallant, are attempting to be the first to make a film that focuses on the over 3,000 people that call the Falklands home.

Their project, titled 51º South, is currently looking for some financial support. For the pair to fly Chicago to New York to Santiago to Punta Arena, Chile to the island chain, as well as pay for the cost of insurance and transportation around the island, Vern and Jamie estimate they need about $10,000 to make their project to come to life this summer. So, what’s the hip way to ask for a handout in the 21st century? Kickstarter, of course! On Kickstarter, Vern and Jamie are already over half way to their goal with 71 backers pledging more than $6,000. With 18 days left to finance their exploration, you can help kick-start the pair’s dream by pledging your donation here and visiting the film’s official website here.

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DDB has confirmed that Brandon Snow, who has spent the last three-and-a-half years working out of the agency’s New York office as director of business development, has resigned from his post. Snow is leaving for a second tour-of duty with the NBA, where he spent two years as senior director of global marketing partnerships prior to joining DDB. Snow, though, will remain at DDB until the end of the month before heading back to the Association. The agency says that it will announce his replacement at a future date.

Guess we should’ve seen it coming when Bob Scarpelli handed over global chief creative duties at DDB Worldwide to Amir Kassaei back in February. After remaining on as chairman after the transition, Scarpelli will now officially step down from the agency he’s called home for 35 years at the end of 2011.

In a statement, Scarpelli, who will still consult for DDB and has now returned to Chicago from New York, says, “I have had a magical career at DDB. I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazingly smart and talented people over the years, both at the agency and at our clients. But now it’s time for me to step back, pay full attention to my family and my health, and enjoy whatever surprises life has in store for me.”

Scarpelli, who started his career as a copywriter at what was then Needham Harper & Steers, took on the role of DDB Worldwide chairman/CCO in 2006 before giving up the latter title to Kassaei.

It looks like Mike’s Hard Lemonade is just as fickle as Heineken when it comes to agency relationships as it was reported yesterday that the Seattle-based brand is ready to review yet again after spending less than two years with ArnoldNYC (and two with Amalgamated before that). Sources familiar with the matter confirm that one of the agencies now involved in Mike’s “limited search” is DDB Chicago, whose network is probably still smarting from losing out on the ExxonMobil global creative pitch. It’s safe to say, though, that a decision will be made a bit faster with Mike’s.

Well, we have to say this is up there on the list when it comes to shortest agency stints, especially in terms of high-level positions. Barely three-and-a-half months after signing on at Ogilvy as senior partner, MD in its planning department, John Kottmann has packed his bags and moved to Chicago to join DDB as chief strategy officer. In a statement, DDB Chicago CEO Peter McGuinness offers the usual lathering, saying, “In an industry that’s increasingly about ‘cool and shiny’ downstream tactics and channels, John’s about all that, plus he’s about upstream business and brand-building ideas.  Moreover, he’s got the gravitas and intelligence to not only explain them, but sell them.”

During his rather brief stay at Ogilvy, Kottmann specifically worked on new business planning as well as notable accounts including AmEx and Gap. Prior to Ogilvy, Kottmann spent the majority of his career at McCann, where he last served as EVP/CSO and helped the agency win the U.S. Army account back in 2005 and also served as global planning director on MasterCard during his run.

During last year’s race to the Super Bowl, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers invented a new kind of touchdown celebration that Wisconsinites of all walks could perform with pride. Rodgers’ homage to professional wrestling, the “Title Belt” became an image synonymous with the Packers’ playoff run, a run that ended with Rodgers holding the Lombardi Trophy above his head, a replica WWE championship belt draped over his shoulder.

If Milwaukee Brewers’ left fielder Ryan Braun‘s use of the gesture to motivate his team in the NLDS or State Farms’ usurpation of it for the above “Discount Double Check” spot are any indication, the celebration isn’t going away anytime soon. Created by DDB Chicago, the spot (which debuted last weekend) even squeezes in an overenthusiastic cheesehead at the end. If you want to learn more about the dance and the NFL’s current best quarterback, watch the Packers tear apart the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday afternoon on Fox. If you want to learn about the time I kept doing the “Title Belt” gesture to a increasingly angry Cleveland Browns fan this summer (and the resulting physical altercation), you’ll have to wait until this spot gets a sequel. Credits after the jump.

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After spending 15 years at Draftfcb Chicago, Chris Pultorak (right) is moving on and is now assuming the newly created position of SVP, integrated brand leader on the Capital One business at DDB. During his rather lengthy stay at Draft, Pultorak spent eight years at Foote Cone & Belding before the merger and eventually served as SVP, group management director on the SC Johnson corporate business, covering bases from strategy to digital to promotions.

At his side will be Matthew Schabdach, who is joining DDB Chicago to serve as account director on Capital One. Schabdach perhaps most notably served as an account director at McGarryBowen for clients including Verizon Wireless/Droid and Chase.

Sonya Grewal, who, just to remind you, was most recently creative director on that skydiving Hotels.com effort out of Y&R Chicago, has packed her bags and headed to New York to assume a GCD role at DDB. Grewal started her career at JWT New Delhi before moving to Chicago to take on senior art director roles at Cramer-Krasselt then Ogilvy. Now at DDB, she will serve as group creative director on the Hertz and Empire City accounts.

Along with Grewal, former Johannes Leonardo art director Dave Tomkins is joining DDB New York as an ACD and will work across the agency’s accounts. Tomkins joined Johannes just last November along with copywriter Iain Nevill. Maybe 11 months does count as tenure these days.

A little over a month after leaving StrawberryFrog, Richie Grantham has found a new gig, making the move from New York to Chicago where he’s joining up with DDB as SVP, group strategy director on the Mars Wrigley business. Grantham spent eight months at the Frogpond, serving as group strategic planning director for Pampers, Sabra, etc.

Joining Grantham on the Mars Wrigley account at DDB Chicago is Janelle James, who’s taking on the role of SVP, group business director. Prior to DDB, James had two tours of duty at Leo Burnett, where she spent 10 years total and worked her way up to VP, account director on P&G North America.

This year saw two centennials celebrated in the ad industry. June 23 marked what would have been the 100th birthday of David Ogilvy, with the agency that he co-founded, Ogilvy and Mather, honoring the Mad Man with an online video contest and a lavish ceremony at the Cannes Lions Festival.

And now, in case you slept on it, DDB Worldwide remembered Bill Bernbach‘ s 100th over the weekend. The agency co-founder/co-namesake was notable for taking a very hands-on approach to DDB as its CEO, with notable campaigns including Volkswagen’s “Think Small” series of print ads (1963′s “Snow Plow” spot for the automaker is above) and Life Cereal’s “Mikey” TV spots. In contrast to Ogilvy’s fancy party, DDB chose to instead just look at examples of Bernbach’s most celebrated work (pictured below). Oh, and Don Draper raised a glass to Bernbach’s memory as well.

In a statement regarding the centennial celebration, DDB U.K. chief client officer Nick Fox says, “When he co-founded DDB, Bernbach started a legacy – an agency that had the gumption to do things differently, with an honest approach that cut to the quick. DDB Worldwide was founded on the power of creativity, the ability to see things in a way others didn’t. The agency took the notion that social stance was no longer important but intelligence – appealing to customers not by what they did or didn’t have, but by who they were as individuals.”

For those interested in learning more about advertising’s “golden age” where personalities like Ogilvy and Bernbach made a name for themselves, you can pick up the recently published Andrew Cracknell book The Real Mad Men. Until then, have the humility to admit that if you got a creative brief that said, “Sell Hitler’s car to America,” you would not hold a candle to Bernbach’s work.

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