Hasta La Creative!

Unfortunately, we were at the airport yesterday morning awaiting the flight back home (sans laptop, still trying to stay off grid) when multiple tips poured in about Pete Favat leaving Arnold. Where to, we didn’t know at the time, but alas, the news broke as we were somewhere above the Midwest that the 14-year Arnold vet did indeed leave the Havas-owned agency to assume the CCO post at Deutsch L.A. Wading through the Favat-related tips this morning, we came across one which is basically Arnold global CEO Robert LePlae‘s memo to staff regarding the move and the appointment of Wade Devers and Pete Johnson as lead creative partners of Boston ops. It’s nothing shocking or anything you haven’t really read in the other trades, but if you want something verbatim from the inside, read on after the jump.

“All,

I am reaching out to let you know that after many years with Arnold, Pete Favat will be leaving the agency.

With a long held ambition to live on the west coast and new opportunities for his family, Pete has accepted a position in Los Angeles.  This is a desire that Pete has harbored for many years, and one he now has an opportunity to fulfill.

There is a plan prepared plan for this evolution.  Earlier this year we elevated Wade Devers to Executive Creative Director in Boston.  Wade is a brilliant craftsman, long-time leader at Arnold, and responsible for much of the best work that comes out of the agency.

Pete Johnson will partner with Wade as Executive Creative Directors.  He joined Arnold last year as one of the leading digital creative and content talents in the country.  It was a coupe for Arnold to get him, he’s delivered on all of our expectations, and we have a high degree of confidence in his talent, and ability to lead.

Wade and Pete Johnson bring a rich combination of conceptual ability, digital creative expertise, craftsmanship and design to the roles.  The increasing demands of creative leaders in recent years require this broad collective skill set, and we’re fortunate to have it readily in place.

I share this news with mixed emotions because of our genuine fondness for Pete Favat, and the many contributions he’s made. At the same time, there’s a talent evolution going on in our business, and we’re feeling quite good about the ability of our creative choices to drive this new direction for Arnold Boston.

Please join me in wishing Pete Favat the best in his new life, congratulating Wade and Pete Johnson in their new roles, and the great energy and success that can come with new leadership.

RLP”

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In past, the ArnoldNYC team has captured Instagrams while bouncing on pogo sticks (#pogogram). Now, creative director Nate Guillard has painted a cartoonish mural on the wall of the agency’s office. Both projects were documented and set to French pop music, making Arnold the coolest, chicest agency on the block. Guillard sketches his bright characters (is that a happy Meatwad?) backed by buzzy band The Blister Boyz, shouting “Be Sexy C’est Francais.”

The inspiration for Guillard’s mural is, “working together is fun,” and considering that an ice cream cone is involved, we don’t doubt it. The end of the making-of vid shows Arnold employees playing ping pong and riding a scooter, further confirming that ArnoldNYC is chill and cool.

It seems only fitting that a creative director should alter his office’s aesthetic, and Guillard has made a cute contribution. Arnold should have a new creative take on the wall every few months, and next time make the soundtrack Yelle. Check out the full-size mural after the jump.

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To promote extraordinary moments and a general sense of YOLO, Pepsi Max, with the help of London-based Arnold KLP, employed the skills of Dynamo, a young magician from Yorkshire. “London: I love the energy of this city, and the sense that anything is possible. But sometimes, with the pace of city life, it’s hard to appreciate the magic that’s all around us,” Dynamo drawls.

He proceeds to levitate and go for a ride around Londontown, one hand on an iconic double decker bus. The people look up in surprise. “How does he do it?” “I don’t know!” We hear in the background. Online, the illusion got the same kind of attention, with 4.9 million views in 48 hours.

If we’re to believe YouTube commenters, Dynamo is either Jesus, Satan, or using a fake arm and harness to stay afloat. Take your pick. In any case, the stunt is a fun way to pull people out of the daily grey drone, though its accompanying hashtag is an unfortunate double entendre. Try levitating on the side of a bus crossing Westminster bridge, and live…for now. Credits after the jump.

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Conveniently timed for the 4th of July, Arnold Worldwide and New Balance have launched a campaign celebrating the latter’s commitment to the United States. In a four-video series titled, “Our U.S. Factory Workers vs. Their U.S. Factory Workers,” actual NB factory workers compete in a hot-dog eating contest, ping-point match, basketball game, and ice hockey challenge. The pitch is their home factory, and the catch is that they have no opponents.

According to the parties involved, while 25 percent of New Balance shoes are made or assembled in the U.S., their competitors represent an embarrassing goose egg: NB employs more than 1300 U.S. factory workers, while their competitors employ none.

One-fourth still isn’t a huge amount, but it’s clearly not an exaggeration to say NB wins the game when it comes to patriotism. That makes for a lot of pride, and a lonely hot dog eating contest.

Credits and other videos after the jump

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We’ve received confirmation that Lynn Power, who most recently served as president of ArnoldNYC, has resigned from the agency. In a statement, the Arnold camp says, “Lynn Power will be departing Arnold later this summer to pursue new challenges.  We are grateful for the many contributions Lynn has made, and wish her great success in the future.” Sources in the know, meanwhile, add that the move was expected as she wasn’t the right fit for the role.

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Most people can barely walk and chew gum at the same time, but Arnold Worldwide’s latest creation, the socially versatile Pogogram, can multitask with ease. The pogo stick can bounce, take video and pictures, and post content to Instagram, Vine, Flickr, etc. Still working on that chewing gum bit, though. I’m not sure why the agency would build such a tricked-out pogo stick with a Canon G15 camera attached – maybe so staffers can goof around in the lobby on breaks? – but it’s a cool side project bolstered by a minimalist video with a peppy French song straight out of a Woody Allen movie. You may also want to know that Pogogram even holds a pogo stick Guinness World Record for highest bounce.

Arnold seems to have a fondness for building souped-up consumer products. First there was the socially connected beer vending machine, a homey staple for frat houses with an abundance of engineering students. Next came the Arnold Bike from Arnold Amsterdam. Beer vending machine, check. Bike, check. Pogo stick, check. Now, is there a way to combine all of the inventions together? Maybe a hydraulic bike with a beer dispenser? Think of the awards that baby could win…

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As you may have read/heard, Volvo has announced that its launched its global creative review, but here’s a quick follow-up to the initial report. First off, here’s a statement from Robert LePlae, Arnold global CEO who assumed his post at the agency last summer and whose agency has been invited to defend, regarding the automaker’s move: “There’s new global leadership at Volvo who are rightly coming in and looking at all aspects of the business, specifically the centrally created advertising in Amsterdam. I’m new too at Arnold and we’ve done our own assessment. This leaves us eager and confident for the opportunity to show Volvo what we can do.”

Sources familiar with the matter add that while Adage reported that it was a global review, they say that Volvo’s move affects the centrally created advertising in Amsterdam only (which serves as central contact on the account for Arnold). The North American work out of Boston, and other local markets around the world, meanwhile, is not under review.

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We’ve seen our fair share of agency folks essentially burn bridges on their way out of their gigs over the years, but in recent weeks, select Arnold staffers have given us the flipside with some positive farewell notes. A little over a week after copywriter Richard Tseng left Arnold in rather poetic fashion, we now have this goodbye sent late last week from one Steve Viglione, who’s spent the last two-and-a-half years at said agency as a marketing analyst.

Considering Viglione’s title at Arnold, the graphic above (click for larger version) complete with lines, data points and shifts detailing his time at the agency makes perfect sense. You can see the full-size graphic along with the parting staffer’s complete note, which begins with the line “Saddle up. I’m about to drop the nerdiest farewell email ever written,” here.

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Despite what we’ve been hearing on the Spy line, sources familiar with the matter tell us that this had nothing to do with a supposed loss of its portion of the Panasonic biz, especially since those in the know tell us that the agency is still working with the brand, which awarded its biz to the Havas-owned agency at the end of 2009. The Arnold camp tells us, “Our recent  staffing adjustments were made in response to the ebbs and flows in our business and to ensure we have the skill sets required to match our client’s changing needs.”

From what we’ve been told, 15 people across departments were affected at Arnold’s Boston hub and the move was made due to the usual ebbs and flows of the industry.

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Nancy Reagan should look the other way. For Stussy’s aptly titled “Baked” campaign, Arnold Amsterdam is rolling out a series of foodie videos that mix fine-dining with street-legal drug ingredients like marijuana and salvia. Chef Misha Sukya–full of the requisite tattoos that make me think he didn’t have to audition too hard to get the role of a weed chef–takes the viewer through the cooking process as he whips up a creative menu including baked veal in a Salvia Divinorum Crut with Magic Truffles and Marijuana. If that’s not primed for your palette, there’s always the Morning Glory Ravioli with Coquilles, Damiana & Marijuana.

In the videos, don’t forget to check out the t-shirts on Chef Misha. You can find Stussy Amsterdam clothing and a BAKED cookbook on the FreshCotton website, if interested. “Just Say No” doesn’t apply if it tastes good. Sorry, Nancy.

Credits and a making-of clip with chef Misha after the jump.

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