It’s somewhat surprising to hear that 180LA hasn’t had executive creative directors at the helm up this point, but the agency has fixed that by bringing in the duo of Rafael Rizuto and Eduardo Marques. The newly appointed ECDs, who will report to 180LA CCO William Gelner, arrive from San Francisco-based Pereira & O’Dell, where they spent the last two-and-a-half years first as ACDs, then creative directors, leading work for clients including Airbnb, Skype, Corona and Mattel. The pair’s relationship actually dates back to 2011 when they both worked in the creative department at Ogilvy Brazil. Some of their notable projects include Pereira & O’Dell’s debut “Birdbnb” effort for Airbnb and their “Whopper Face” stunt for Burger King while at Ogilvy Brazil.
Rizuto and Marques’s hiring marks the second major additions to 180LA’s creative department in less than a week, following that of creative directors David Povill and Dave Cuccinello. From what we’ve been told, 180LA’s moves in creative come as part of a retooling in said department and an effort to win new business in the wake of losing Adidas Sport to 72andSunny earlier this month.