J. Walter Thompson

JWT North America has enticed CP+B’s Jeff Benjamin and Goodby chief digital officer Mike Geiger to leave their respective posts and join the agency’s leadership team (guess JWT NA CEO/Worldwide digital director David Eastman’s got quite the charm). Benjamin (pictured) and Geiger will serve as JWT North America’s chief creative officer and president, chief integration officer, respectively.

JWT Worldwide chairman/CEO Bob Jeffrey seems obviously pleased, saying in a statement, “Jeff Benjamin and Mike Geiger are game-changers and they embody the future of our industry. With these appointments, JWT solidifies its position as the only agency that can deliver creativity and execution at the intersection of Silicon Valley, Madison Avenue and Hollywood. We know that clients need this unique expertise and we are excited to lead the way forward.”

Benjamin spent over eight years at CP+B, initially joining up as interactive CD and eventually moving all the way up to CCO/partner. Geiger, meanwhile, spent nearly twice that much time at GS&P, last serving as chief digital officer, associate partner.

As a result of JWT’s move, the agency’s NY CCO Peter Nicholson, who rejoined just over a year ago, is out of a job. Expect his replacement to be announced in the coming weeks.

We don’t usually cover the PR front when it comes to agency news, but perhaps this is worth noting. JWT New York’s director of communications Kenneth Hein is splitting after 18 months to take on the role of marketing director at full-service, NYC-based agency gyro, which works with the likes of Audi, HP, FedEx and L’Oreal. JWT didn’t wait too long to replace Hein as the agency’s announced that IPG/McCann vet Anaka Kobzev is taking over as director of communications for the New York office. Kobzev’s new boss, JWT North America CEO David Eastman, sent a memo out. Peep it if you will after the jump.

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This week, a couple of tipsters asked, “Why is Tom Christmann no longer at JWT?” Well, here’s your answer, we think, and it’s become an all-too-familiar one. According to sources  familiar with the matter, Christmann left JWT New York a few weeks back to, yes, go freelance (he’s now attached to Montague/Ryan’s Co collective). We’ve been told that the parting was “totally” amicable. Christmann, to refresh your memory, joined JWT NY in May 2009 from the now-defunct Cliff Freeman & Partners, where he spent about 18 months as the top creative executive after Freeman himself. Some of his last projects as an ECD at JWT included the Stride “Chase” work starring Shaun White. During his career, Christmann has held CD jobs everywhere from TAXI to KBS+P to BBDO.

We’ve received confirmation from sources familiar with the matter that JWT New York’s director of integrated production, Clair Grupp, is no longer with the agency. The word is that the agency’s NY CCO Peter Nicholson is taking things in a new direction. Grupp, whose last day at JWT was last Monday according to sources, worked on campaigns for Huggies (remember this or this?), Halls and more. Prior to JWT, Grupp spent eight years at Cliff Freeman & Partners, serving as head of integrated production at the now dearly departed shop.

We’ve received confirmation from sources close to the matter that there were 10 people or so let go at JWT Atlanta last week. From what spies are telling us, the cuts are part of CEO Rob Quish‘s efforts to “clean house” at JWT’s ATL office, though we’re trying to find out if there were other reasons for the move. If you remember, this isn’t the first time that Quish tried to shake things up in Atlanta since joining as chief exec back in April. We’ll keep you posted when we find out more.

Update: We’ve been told that the cuts were made across multiple departments and JWT Atlanta is “shifting [project management] into delivery depts not shutting it down.”

In the latest episode of “Cubes,” we tour the New York headquarters of JWT, which features a game room, animation studios, tent-inspired meeting areas, a bar, and much, much more.

For more videos, check out Mediabistro.tv, and be sure to follow us on Twitter: @mediabistroTV

The Corporation for Travel Promotion, which was launched by the U.S. Congress last year in an effort to compete for international visitors and subsequent job creation, has tapped JWT NY as its global marketing AOR. As a result, the agency will spearhead the CTP’s first ever global marketing campaign under the banner of “Brand USA” to lure travelers from abroad.

JWT beat out DDB and Ogilvy in a review to win the $2oo million CTP account according to reports. It took some help, though, as the agency partnered with WPP siblings Mediacom, Hill & Knowlton and The Brand Union to win the non-profit group’s business. In a statement, Jim Evans, CEO of the Corporation for Travel Promotion, says, “JWT’s global network is unparalleled, especially within our priority markets. They demonstrated impressive strategic insight and a genuine, shared passion for our mission. I’m excited to welcome them as a strategic marketing partner to what will be a world-class team.” We’ll refrain from repeating the famous line from Team America, but the marketing campaign is intended to “showcase America to the world, and drive economic growth and job creation in communities across the nation.”

JWT will be getting down to business rather quickly as the marketing and brand strategy is set to be unveiled in November at World Travel Market in London before it’s implemented in 2012.

With Advertising Week just over a month away, JWT is getting into the spirit of things by teaming up with Pandora to launch a station based solely on the playlists sent by the “top minds” in the industry. The two parties behind the effort are looking for the top 10 (or so) songs that inspire you, which those of you interested in playing DJ can submit here. Deadline to send your “mixtape” is this Friday, August 26, at noon EST and the JWT/Pandora station will officially begin broadcasting during the week of September 12.

The station ties into a JWT/Pandora event that will take place during Advertising Week on October 3 at 2:30PM in the Times Center Hall. Yes, there will be a panel that includes a “Pandora musicologist.” Click here for more info.

The search is on for a new executive creative director at JWT’s Atlanta office as sources familiar with the matter confirm that Carl Warner is no longer with the agency. We hear that Rob Quish, who assumed the CEO post there back in April, is trying to shake things up a bit. JWT ATL counts the Marines as its flagship client and works on Shell and Transamerica among other accounts as well.

As for Warner, the exec spent the last eight years at JWT, first serving as a creative director in Detroit from 2003-2006 before moving down south to take on president/ECD job in Atlanta. Prior to JWT, Warner spent nine years as a CD at DDB Dallas and had creative stints at The Richards Group and Team One during his career.

What do you get when you mix the FDA, the USDA, CDC, the Ad Council and JWT New York? A lobster on a couch, that’s what.

Every summer, reports of foodborne illness tend to increase, especially during July 4 weekend. To honor this special time, three government agencies, one non-profit org and one ad agency hired pro bono have come together to create a series of four spots, reminding day-drinking, barbecuing Americans how to prevent food poisoning.

In a very long and involved announce, quotes from the government make not chilling your lobster sound very serious and very scary (because if our leaders don’t keep us in a constant state of fear, we wouldn’t pay attention to anything). How does the ad world view this campaign? As JWT ECD Bill Oberlander puts it, “Using humor and hyperbolic metaphors we drove home the four ways a family can be ‘food safer’ in a way that will grab people’s attention and helps them learn the basic steps to avoid foodborne illnesses. JWT is proud to be a part of this important effort.” Two more spots follow after the jump.

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