RPA hired Jason Tarantino as its newest VP/strategic planning director.
Tarantino is an agency veteran whose previous role was that of group planning director at TBWA’s Media Arts Lab. The release tells us that he “co-managed a team of more than 30 planners and researchers and directed strategy” on various Apple initiatives. Prior to that gig, he spent a year as SVP/GPD at the Martin Agency and more than two years as GPD at R/GA’s San Francisco office (his second stint with the agency).
He also worked as a senior strategist at W+K and spent several years as an independent contractor for various brands after beginning his agency career in Razorfish’s strategy department. Tarantino will report directly to David Berne, SVP and director of strategic planning, who writes that the hire “will further enhance RPA’s ability to unlevel the playing field for our clients.”
Neela Pal, managing partner and global director of brand/business strategy, is leaving Boston’s Arnold. Pal joined the agency’s global strategy department in 2010 after five years in other strategic roles; her promotion was part of a series of moves made by CEO Andrew Bennett to build up his agency’s core team.
A tipster tells us she’s accepted a role at Newton, MA-based TripAdvisor, but we’ve yet to confirm that.
Holler, a UK-based wing of Leo Burnett, hired Joel Lim as its new creative director. Lim previously served as ACD at Engine’s social media shop Jam, and before that he was ACD at Weapon7; he also held creative positions at Naga DDB and Tribal DDB in Malaysia. Lim will report to global CEO Will Pyne and work across all accounts including Mercedes and P&G.
Jennifer Striegel joined DigitasLBi to lead brand strategy for the agency’s Chicago and San Francisco offices, effective immediately. Striegel, who will be based out of Chicago and report directly to president Doug Ryan, previously served as global senior marketing director for the intimate care sector at consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark.
Striegel brings agency experience to the role: she started her career in strategic/media/account management roles at Starcom MediaVest Group and DDB.