Integrated agency Publicis Seattle appointed creative duo James McKenna and Matthew Trego as creative directors. In their new roles, the duo will work closely on the agency’s T-Mobile account while leading a team of creatives and reporting directly to executive creative director Jason Lucas.
McKenna joins the agency after a period as a freelance creative director, which followed two years as a creative director with TBWA\Chiat\Day. While with TBWA, he worked with brands including Google, Disney, Grey Goose, Jimmy Dean and Reebok. Over the course of his career, he has also freelanced with such agencies as 72andSunny and Saatchi & Saatchi, working on brands including Target, Toyota, Sony, Microsoft and Lincoln.
Trego joins Publicis Seattle from McKinney, where he has served as an associate creative director since April of 2012, working with brands including Travelocity, ESPN SEC Network, Mizuno Golf and Sherwin-Williams. He originally joined the agency in November of 2009 as a senior art director, following nearly three years in that role with Eleven, Inc. While with Eleven he worked with clients including Visa, Apple, Callaway Golf, Common Sense Media and the Oakland A’s. He also spent time with GS&P and Ogilvy & Mather as an art director.
In addition to McKenna and Trego, Publicis Seattle welcomed six further hires: associate creative director Derek Anderson joins from TAXI New York; account director Brad Gale rejoins the agency after stints with DNA Seattle and MRM//McCann; Maria Schoonover joins as account director on the American Girl and KinderCare accounts following a stint client-side at Universal Technical Institute; account director Garth Knutson joins the agency from WONGDOODY; Elise Davis joins from Ogilvy Chicago as a senior strategist focusing on the Kraft Heinz account; and senior broadcast producer Tim Biggins arrives following a stint as a freelance line producer.