-Actor Paul Giamatti has transformed from Scrooge to Einstein in he and Cecily Strong’s latest commercial for Verizon. The latest “Welcome Unlimited” campaign features Giamatti playing the role of Albert Einstein as he’s contending with a weak network signal. Strong gives he and viewers the solution with Verizon’s best deal of the year.
-Sonesta partnered with creative and consulting agency RO New York to launch “Famous Yet Nameless,” a self-aware brand campaign featuring Judy Greer.
-Actor JB Smoove has taken on a temporary customer service gig for Just Egg in a series of spots timed for New Year’s resolutions.
-The live performance publisher Pop-Up Magazine announced Wednesday that it has shuttered its business.
-Stella Artois is continuing its “Au Naturel” theme by putting up a giant mural of a couple of naked people, save for a couple of strategically placed windows, enjoying beer.
-Adweek’s former creative editor, Tim Nudd, who spent the last four years leading Muse by Clio, has been named creativity editor at Ad Age.
-The industry has lost another star far too soon. Per Pedersen, founder of the global independent agency network ‘by The Network’ and former global creative chairman of Grey Worldwide, has died after a battle with cancer. Pedersen died in Copenhagen on January 4 at just 58. For those who can attend, the funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. on January 14 at Copenhagen Cathedral (Vor Frue Kirke).
“Per wanted creativity to win. Behind any individual piece of work, job title or jury role was a real belief in the best of our industry, an unshakable passion. He will be remembered for far more than his vocation but for his loyalty to the creative cause, he cared greatly, and as a result so did we all,” said Nils Leonard, founder, Uncommon London and former chairman and CCO Grey Europe in a statement.