Zibara Takes Creative Helm at FutureBrand

NEW YORK FutureBrand, a division of McCann Erickson WorldGroup, has tapped Rony Zibara as executive creative director of North America, a new position, effective immediately, the agency said.

Zibara, 37, was most recently creative director for Pedersen Gesk in Toronto, which merged last year with FutureBrand. Zibara reports to FutureBrand worldwide president and COO Richard O’Leary, who said in a statement, “There is great momentum building at FutureBrand and it continues with Rony taking this new post as executive creative director for North America with greatly expanded responsibilities. Rony is key to helping FutureBrand fulfill our recently rearticulated mission of shaping future demand for client brands, products, services.”

At Pederson, Zibara launched a “brand innovation” discipline, working with clients such as Coke, Domino’s Pizza, Starbucks and Clorox. At FutureBrand, Zibara will be based at the New York headquarters and plans to reorganize the North America senior creative team.

Paul Gardner, 40, is moving from the San Francisco office to New York as creative director. He helped design MSN’s butterfly image used in the ad campaign created by sister agency McCann Erickson.

Senior design director Sven Seger, 37, will be promoted to creative director of FutureBrand, New York. He has worked on the UPS, Bank of America and GE accounts.

Marcus Bartlett, 28, has been promoted to senior designer in the New York shop, from consulting designer. He works on Marriott, UPS and JPMorgan Chase Manhattan Bank.

Michael Dudley, 35, joined FutureBrand, New York, as director of production. He was most recently an independent production consultant.

In a statement, Zibara said, “In the studio, I am merging talent which was previously either exclusively consumer focused or of corporate design background. Simply put, the goal is to leverage the experience base of both competencies, humanize and enhance the rigor of design, and thereby create new customer experiences and new levels of customer desire and demand.”

Additionally, O’Leary, 47, has formed a North American executive committee for the brand identity company. Committee members are: Andrew Benett, 33, executive director, strategy; Odine Bonthrone, 39, executive director, account management; Zibara; Mario Natarelli, 36, managing partner, FutureBrand HyperMedia; and Cheryl Waddleton, 31, finance director, FutureBrand, North America.

FutureBrand is part of Interpublic Group and has 15 offices in 13 countries. Its clients include, Microsoft, UPS, Dupont, GM, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, AT&T, Telefonica, British Airways, Nestle and Coca-Cola.