Hasta La Creative!

No word yet on what his exact title is (we’re hearing communications planner), but sources in the know confirm that Matthew Baker, who has spent nearly the lat 18 months at Arnold Worldwide’s New York branch as VP/group planning director/digital director, has split for a new gig at Anomaly. From what we’ve been told by sources on the Spy line, Baker was “the digital brain” of ArnoldNYC and according to one source, “Matt is a gentleman and a talented Planner, so it’s a huge loss for us.” No word yet on if there are plans to replace but we’ll keep you posted.

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Reliable sources familiar with the matter confirm that Arnold Worldwide’s Boston office, which has handled the creative business for drug store giant CVS for nearly four years (succeeding fellow Boston op, Hill Holliday, in 2010), is no longer in the review mix for the chain. From what we hear on the Spy line, the agency was set to engage and defend in final pitches next week but has suddenly withdrawn. Sources add that sister agency, Havas Worldwide, is still in the pitch. Other finalists also mentioned for the current creative review include Grey, BBDO NY and Lowe Campbell Ewald. No word yet on the matter from CVS itself, which touts 7,500 stores

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Frank knows Jack. I'm talkin' Sinatra and Daniel's, baby! The legendary crooner, who passed away in 1998, returns in a push by Arnold Worldwide to pitch a high-end version of the whiskey rolling out nationwide in June.

Would you pay $150 and up for Sinatra Select? It's 90 proof—regular Jack is 80—so your ol' blue eyes will get bloodshot faster than ever before. (The variant has been sold in duty-free stores in airports for a couple of years.)

There's digital, print and a 30-second spot mixing archival photos with big-band music stylings and nightclub scenes. In one shot, Frank hangs out with comedian Jackie Gleason, who apparently introduced the singer to Jack Daniel's in the late 1940s.

When it comes to resurrecting dead celebs as endorsers, I prefer this relatively simple approach to some efforts by other brands. It seems less forced than, say, using high-tech hijinks to make dear, departed Audrey Hepburn hawk candy bars.

Plus, Frankie was a true fan, calling the drink "the nectar of the gods" and toasting crowds at his concerts with Jack. So his presence feels genuine. It's also an interesting contrast to the week's other big spirits endorsement deal. It's hard to picture Mila Kunis pounding back Jim Beam, but imagining Sinatra goofy on Jack, slurring the words to "My Way" and cursing Ava Gardner as he stumbles into a limo? Ring a ding ding!

CREDITS
TV Spot: "Frank The Man"
Executive Creative Directors: Wade Devers, Pete Johnson
Group Creative Director: Erik Enberg
Creative Director: Greg Almeida
Art Director: Daran Brossard
Copywriter: Greg Almeida
Producers: William Near, Benjamin Ouellette
Assistant Producers: Alex Saevitz
Business Affairs: Maria Rougvie
Marketing Producers: Paul Nelson, Emily Brooks, Shannon Coletti, Nicolle Fagan
Production Company, Visual Effects: Elastic Pictures
Executive Producer:  Jennifer Sofio
Line Producer: Rick Brown
Director: Jake Banks
Cinematographer: Eric Treml
Editorial Company: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Parker Whipple
Music Company: Pivot Audio
Music Composers: Jan Kos, Guy Amitai
Postproduction Producer: Scott Boyajan
Music: Pivot Audio

Arnold Worldwide is behind a new 2.3 million dollar campaign for Jack Daniel’s new “Sinatra Select,” a new product rolling out in select markets in anticipation of a June release nationally. Sinatra Select is a stronger make of whiskey (90 proof to Jack Daniel’s normal 80 proof) with “more oak and spice notes.” It will be rolled out in some of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ favorite haunts: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, and Las Vegas.

At the center of the campaign is the 30-second spot, “Frank The Man,” celebrating Frank Sinatra and his favorite drink. The spot ends with Sinatra’s “That’s the nectar of the gods, baby,” quote. Jack Daniel’s in an enviable position as the preferred drink of such a historical celebrity; the new product, and Arnold’s campaign, seem like a no-brainer. As you may remember, Sinatra got a shout out in Jack Daniel’s “Legend” spot from last year, so it was only a matter of time until he got the spotlight. The media buy for “Frank The Man” includes “ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live and NBC’s The Tonight Show as well as cable outlets including ESPN, FX, Discovery and Comedy Central so this should reach a wide array of eyeballs as the product rolls out in its select markets.

As you might expect, the premium whiskey is a bit more glamorous than Jack Daniel’s standard offering, and the price tag ($150) is indicative of that. Sinatra Select also comes with packaging that “includes a commemorative gift box and a booklet detailing Mr. Sinatra’s history with Jack,” so folks will be paying for more than just the whiskey itself. The timing behind this campaign and product rollout is deliberate, coming in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ birth on Dec. 15, 1915. Credits after the jump. continued…

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Arnold continues its ongoing Public Awareness Campaign for Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. today with the release of “Can You Tell the Difference?”

The 30-second TV spot presents several people with what they think is a professional financial planner, but is actually DJ/Pirates of the Caribbean actor Azmyth Kaminski, who shed 14 years of dreadlocks to appear in the ad. Kaminski asks individuals seeking financial advice if they would trust him as their financial advisor. When they reply that they would, he reveals his true identity. The stunt was designed to highlight the importance of selecting a financial advisor with CFP certification. “Anyone can hold him or herself out to the public as a financial advisor or planner,” says CFP Board CEO Kevin Keller, CAE.  “We urge consumers to seek someone who has demonstrated competency and ethics by achieving CFP certification, the highest standard for the financial planning profession.”

This latest phase of Arnold’s ongoing campaign includes print and banner ads in addition to the television spot, as well as sponsorship messages on National Public Radio and a retooled CFP Board website. Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…

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Well, it’s been some time since we’ve heard the name Gary Scheiner, but a phone call has confirmed that the former Rosetta chief creative officer is now working at ArnoldNYC. From what tipsters tell us, since parting ways with Rosetta last spring, Scheiner has actually been consulting with Arnold since last summer. Now, though, we’re hearing he’s assumed an official role at the agency as EVP/GCD, overseeing healthcare biz while reporting to Aaron Griffiths and president Corey Mitchell. We’re trying to confirm everything, but one spy tells us that Arnold is not allowed to broadcast Scheiner’s move up due to a previous clause “but to the agency and clients, he is EVP, GCD, and is great.”

Prior to his five years at Rosetta, Scheiner served as an ECD at the likes of Draftfcb and TBWA\Chiat\Day.

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To kick things off today, let’s start with Kaz/Helen of Troy, the parent company of water filtration brand PUR, which has selected Arnold Worldwide to serve as its new agency of record. Yes, there was a review and the incumbent was TBWA\Chiat\Day, which sources say did not defend the biz. As a result, Arnold will handle brand communications strategy, creative development, and digital marketing strategies. In a statement, Kaz CMO  Christophe Coudray says, “We selected Arnold for its breadth of experience, its unique combination of analytical strength and strong creative capability. This will help us meet consumer needs and  our business objectives. Identifying a strong agency partner is extremely important to our leadership team and our business. We’re very excited to begin working with Arnold, and look forward to the partnership.”

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By now, you’re probably all well-aware of Volvo’s decision to hand its global creative duties to Grey London (and global digital biz to R/GA), a move which in turn resulted in the end of a six-and-a-half year relationship between the automaker and Arnold. While the latter agency wasn’t officially commenting on Volvo’s decision yesterday, we did happen to obtain the memo that Arnold global chief exec Robert LePlae sent to staff around 2pm EST yesterday following the move. Figured it’s worth getting a little perspective from Arnold’s end. Read on.

“All,

As you might have read today, AdAge is reporting that Volvo has selected Grey as the central branding and U.S. agency of record.  The decision for Arnold not to defend the central branding assignment was made early this year given the changes in Sweden in 2012.

There had remained discussion about the U.S. business, but we were well aware that a global consolidation was a real possibility.  It’s important to note however, we have not been formally informed from Volvo of a shift in the U.S. business.

Since 2007 we’ve partnered with Volvo through a maze of change and transition.  We have great passion for what the brand represents, and can reconcile their desire to return central marketing to Sweden.  Our team has dedicated itself to this client through four global CEO’s, four U.S. CEOs, six global marketing leaders, an acquisition by Geely and no new product launches in the U.S. since 2009.

You should be very proud of your dedication and commitment to the brand through the length of our partnership.  We are leaning forward with the momentum of some wins and a very rich pipeline of new client opportunities, including automotive.  2014 is going to be a very strong year for us.

RLP”

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Alguém consegue imaginar Robert De Niro – justo ele – se comportando mal em uma sala de cinema? Foi exatamente esta situação que imaginaram os criativos da Arnold Worldwide para Movie Marathon, filme que integra a campanha de rebranding do Santander nos Estados Unidos.

No comercial, o narrador explica que as pessoas que abrirem uma conta no Santander ganharão ingressos para uma maratona de filmes de Robert De Niro… acompanhados pelo próprio De Niro. O que parece uma ótima ideia, a princípio, se transforma em uma verdadeira provação, com o ator reproduzindo clássicos do mau comportamento em salas de cinema – falar o tempo inteiro, spoilers, atender o celular (que neste comercial é um dos momentos mais divertidos), etc. Vale o play.

Post originalmente publicado no Brainstorm #9
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Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a new 25 million dollar campaign, “Moments That Matter,” with agency Arnold Worldwide. The fall campaign will extend across broadcast, radio, digital and direct mail from September through December. For the first spot in this campaign, Carnival sourced material directly from their customers through social media.

The :60 spot, “24 Hours Onboard” features content chosen from over 30,000 pictures and videos submitted by past guests on Carnival’s cruises, including one dude who publicly proposed on a Carnival Cruise (yikes). “24 Hours Onboard,” which will debut on major network primetime Monday, September 23rd, appeals to viewers’ sentimentality, and employing pictures and videos sourced directly from past customers adds a personal element that could help convince viewers to book their next vacation with Carnival. As Arnold Executive Creative Director Pete Johnson puts it, “We found those looking to book a cruise are much more likely to listen to recommendations from previous cruisers.” So filling a commercial with vacation memories from enthusiastic fans of Carnival makes a lot of sense.

This isn’t a spot that will blow anyone away with its creativity or execution, but it doesn’t have to. It appeals to the type of people who line their walls with photos from family vacations, or, in other words, Carnival’s target audience. continued…

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