DDB New York expanded its strategy department with five new hires: director of content strategy Tim Polder, director of social strategy Chiara Martini, associate planning director Neil Simpson, social strategist Amanda Moreno and group strategy director Claudia Steer. All of the new hires will report to DDB New York chief strategy officer Stuart Hazlewood.
“It has been a strong start to 2016 for DDB New York on the new business and campaign front and we are building some great momentum,” Hazlewood said. “However, we all know that everything starts with great talent so it is awesome to welcome such a brilliant group of people into the agency.”
Polder arrives at DDB New York from Cheil Worldwide in London, where he served as a digital strategist since November of 2013. Prior to that, he held a similar role for Saatchi & Saatchi in Amsterdam while serving a similar function at Badabiem Badaboem, the creative consultancy he founded in 2010, working with clients including adidas, Biqini, Greenpeace, WeAreSocial, Leo Burnett and Ideocracy.
As director of social strategy, Martini will be responsible for social and content strategy for key accounts including Clean&Clear, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Huawei, Cotton, Qualcomm and State Farm. She arrives at DDB New York from Heinken Brazil in São Paulo, where she has served as digital manager since April of 2011. She has also served in digital account roles for Wunderman, F.biz, Hello, Interactive and Ogilvy Interactive.
Simpson joins the agency from DDB Remedy London, where has served as a planner since November of 2014. Prior to joining DDB, he spent three years at London-based full-service communications and public relations firm Freud Communications, where he managed global brands including Pepsi Max, Quaker Oats, Guinness, Asda and Mars.
Moreno will be tasked with working closely with the strategy team to manage campaigns, develop social content, and communicate with clients to execute social and content tactics for brands including Neutrogena, Aveeno and Clean and Clear. She arrives at the agency following a little over a year as a freelance content strategist and writer, working with clients such as Lex & Lynne, Intermix, Alba and Calypso St. Barth. Prior to that she spent a little over a year and a half as a social media manager, focusing on L’Oréal Paris.
Steer joins the agency from Leo Burnett Chicago, where she led strategy for McDonald’s U.S. brand initiatives, while also working on Sprint and pro-bono client the Greater Chicago Food Depository. During her three and a half years with the agency she also championed diversity initiatives such as No.2.66 and Blank Canvs. Prior to joining Leo Burnett, she spent two years at CP+B as a cognitive anthropologist, working on accounts including Under Armour, Best Buy, Burger King and Coke Zero. Prior to that, she spent around 20 months with StrawberryFrog New York as a strategic planner.