Hasta La Creative!

Vonage has selected FCB Garfinkel as its brand agency of record, following a review.

The brand launched the review in December, after parting ways with JWT, who won the account in early 2013.

“We’re thrilled to be helping evolve the Vonage brand,” said FCB Garfinkel CEO Lee Garfinkel, in a statement.  “This is a fascinating company, a proven disruptor and innovator that has consistently enabled connections and brought real value to consumers. Vonage has extended that same value into the business market, and we’re excited to tell that story.”

FCB Garfinkel is tasked with developing overall brand strategy and launching “a new brand campaign that articulates the depth of the Vonage value proposition not only for consumers, but also for businesses that are moving to cloud communications solutions.” New creative, which will likely encompass both broadcast and digital, is expected by the middle of the year.

“Brand builder, leader and consummate strategic thinker” Kofi Amoo-Gottfried joins FCB Garfinkel today as chief strategic officer, replacing Sara Bamber. He will work in tandem with chief executive officer Lee Garfinkel.

Amoo-Gottfried joins FCB Garfinkel from Bacardi Rums, where he worked as a global communications director out of London. The Ghana native “created and launched the first majority-owned network agency on the African continent” while working as a managing director at Publicis West Africa. He began his career at Leo Burnett Chicago as an account supervisor and communications manager, where he worked alongside current FCB Worldwide CEO Carter Murray. The team later reunited while at Publicis. Amoo-Gottfried cited Murray as a key motivator for joining the agency. “I have a lot of faith in his ability to turn places around, to inspire and motivate,” Amoo-Gottfried said. “We are very similar. I, too, am all about creating a culture that brings people together to focus on creating incredible work, and having fun doing it.”

Amoo-Gottfried also worked as a senior strategic planner at Wieden+Kennedy, where he crafted the strategy for Nike’s global Beijing Olympics campaign. In January, he was named to Ad Age‘s “40 Under 40” list of young marketing stars. Lee Garfinkel says Amoo-Gottfried “doesn’t know where planning ends and creative begins, and that’s a formula for success.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Well, as you may have heard, Darren Moran has officially joined Havas Worldwide’s New York office as its new chief creative officer. Once again, we’ve obtained a memo (confirmed legit), this time sent from Havas global president Andrew Benett (who also doubles as NY CEO) to staff just a couple of hours ago regarding Moran’s arrival. The newly minted CCO most recently spent his second tour of duty at BBDO New York, which he rejoined just last fall as executive creative director. During his career, the creative exec also served as EVP/chief creative officer at Draftfcb NY.

Anyhow, feel free to check out Benett’s memo, which also mentions a few other key leadership notes, in full after the jump.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.