Eric is global chief creative officer at Havas Health, inspiring a creative awakening across the 6,000+ person network. Throughout his career, Eric has guided his teams to win over 100 international creative awards from Cannes, The One Show, Clios, the Webbys, Effies and more. Eric’s work can be found in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection and college textbooks, and has been covered by CNN, NBC, BCC, The New York Times and Fast Company. 

We spent two minutes with Eric to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired. 

Eric, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio (cue laugh track). I’ve made pitstops in Chicago and Detroit, but I’ve spent most of my adult life in New York City.

How you first got interested in health.

It’s been a long courtship between me and health marketing. Betwixt briefs for beer, sneakers, jeeps and Big Macs, I started to fall in love with brands like Tylenol, Band-Aid and Listerine. That led to flirts with briefs for hospital systems, insurance, medical devices and eventually prescription drugs — all of which I found intellectually and creatively interesting, but ones most creative people ignored. Before I knew it, folks started considering me a health and wellness expert, even though I was running a general consumer agency. 

Then COVID happened, and I realized that everything about health was about to change — every brand was about to become a health brand. Suddenly, creativity in health, long the backseat of advertising innovation, was about to have a massive creative awakening, and I wanted to be a part of that. And as we all emerged from the fog of COVID, I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and help close the health equity gap.

Some of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.

If you asked most people, they would tell you I’m best known for making Matthew McConaughey the creative director of Wild Turkey; Jeep’s The Middle with Bruce Springsteen, a Super Bowl spot that aimed to heal the nation after the last election; or Band-Aid MagicVision, the app that turned a billion bandages into an entertainment platform.

But those aren’t necessarily the projects that are most meaningful to me. I’ve always been drawn to work that celebrates and supports people and problems that are often overlooked.

My personal picks would be:

Healing the Healers, a film, research study and white paper that aims to ease the mental health crisis and high suicide rate of medical professionals.

Tylenol’s How We Family, a campaign launched moments after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, which celebrated modern love and sparked an important discussion about health, inclusivity and family.

Another favorite project was The Vitals, a Marvel comic book series celebrating the stories of real nurses and their fight during COVID. It started a national conversation about the urgent nursing shortage. The book is now part of The Smithsonian‘s permanent collection and was the most downloaded comic book of 2021.

A recent project you’re proud of.

I’m obsessed with our work with Earswitch called Airquity. This is exactly the kind of creative innovation that drew me to Havas to focus on closing the health equity gap. Because of how light interacts with melanin, pulse oximeters are less effective on black and brown skin, so Airquity was designed based on the idea that inside the ear canal, all skin looks the same. The groundbreaking campaign addressed racial bias to literally save lives. 

One thing about how health is evolving that you’re excited about.

We’re living in a time where every brand is now a health brand. Traditional health brands are now competing with the biggest brands in the world that are making health their differentiator. Apple, Amazon and Google have taken on health as a big part of the future of their business and their purpose. Before, health was in its own world. Health is the last major industry to undergo a user-centric transformation, and what we’re seeing is patient-led care like never before. We’re seeing a world where the same user transformation that happened in entertainment, telecoms and insurance is now changing how drugs are launched and how people interact with the healthcare system.

Someone else’s work, in health or beyond, that you admired lately.

I have to give massive props to Apple for their commitment to serving underserved populations. Apple’s The Greatest is a magnificent celebration of the abilities of people with disabilities. Best of all, it’s not empty purpose-washing; they have embedded accessibility into each and every one of their devices. I applaud their strategy to not just focus on the greatest number of people, but the people with the greatest need.

A book, movie, TV show, or podcast you recently found inspiring.

Rick Rubin‘s The Creative Act: A Way of Being. Beyond the book, I recently saw him speak at the Universal Music Group and Thrive Global MUSIC + HEALTH Summit. He has always personally inspired my creative journey, and I can’t get enough of how he views the world, content and the power of creativity.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

David Byrne. He has continued to reinvent what the standard for music and music videos looks like, and then he moved his creativity to Broadway.

Your favorite fictional character.

Yoda.

Someone worth following on social media.

Winston Green – chief dog officer at Havas Health and Havas Creative Network. You can follow him on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Your main strength as a marketer/creative.

Resilience.

Your biggest weakness.

Procrastination.

One thing that always makes you happy.

Matcha.

One thing that always makes you sad.

When people tell me they’ve never seen any Star Wars films.

Something people would find surprising about you.

I’m the first person in my family who is not a butcher. I come from a long line of butchers dating back many generations to Russia. Ironically enough, I’m also the first vegetarian in my family.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in health.

I don’t have a screenplay in my drawer, I don’t play guitar, I’m not shooting a short film … I’m exactly where I want to be. 

Somebody recently asked me on a podcast: “What’s my next chapter?” I said, “Health IS my next chapter.”

The post 2 Minutes With … Eric Weisberg, Global CCO at Havas Health first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Khalid has over two decades of experience in healthcare advertising and PR. He currently leads agency teams across Europe as global executive creative director of VML Health. A copywriter by trade, Khalid has built a diverse portfolio that includes working with acclaimed director Tony Kaye. 

We spent two minutes with Khalid to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.

 Khalid, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in Kuwait, then moved to Bristol in the U.K. when I was 11. I’ve been living in London for the last 20 years.

How you first got interested in health.

My dad’s a retired doctor and my mother was a nurse, so I was destined to find a way into it.

One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.

A film for the International Committee of the Red Cross called “The Last Mile.” Everyone believed in the vision and worked relentlessly to make it happen. They pulled out all the stops. When the process works, good things happen.

A recent project you’re proud of.

“The Cancer Currency.” Metastatic breast cancer is so incredibly unfair and misunderstood. This campaign, and its intention, is simple, single-minded and grounded in a genuine insight. The fact that we saw significant impact with this makes me hugely proud. It’s also the first project I worked on when I joined VML, so I’ll always hold it close to my heart.

One thing about how health is evolving that you’re excited about.

The ability to track anything and everything. 

Someone else’s work, in health or beyond, that you admired lately.

“NotTurtle” by NotCo and GUT. This campaign used AI, a professional chef and a tech food company to create a plant-based dish to help save an endangered animal, while at the same time preserving local traditions. It combines many elements, but the idea running through its core is super simple, meaningful and relevant to the brand.

A book, movie, TV show, or podcast you recently found inspiring.

TV Series: Secrets of the Octopus. What these creatures can do is astonishing.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

David Bowie

Your favorite fictional character.

Geralt of Rivia

Someone worth following on social media.

mr_bingstagram

Your main strength as a marketer/creative.

Patience

Your biggest weakness.

Taking on too much at once. And coffee. Two things that don’t mix.

Something people would find surprising about you.

I have a degree in medical biochemistry. Scientists can be creative, too!

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in health.

Professional gamer or marine biologist. Or both, why not.

The post Khalid Latif, Global ECD of VML Health, On the Ability to Track Anything and Everything  first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Sydney is creator partnerships manager at Genies, a tech and marketing company that serves artists including Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton and Rihanna. Other partnerships include Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and the player associations of the NBA, NFL and MLB.

Prior to Genies, Sydney spearheaded label relations and partnerships at The Nations, an independent music curation network on YouTube. Earlier, she was an artist manager held posts at Buchwald and CAA.

Currently, Sydney is also an executive committee member on the City of Hope’s “Future of Hope” board. She also produces the Mycelium music festival.

We spent two minutes with Sydney to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired.

Sydney, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I was born in New York and raised just north of Atlanta. I currently live in Venice, Calif.

Your earliest musical memory.

Going to NSYNC’s No Strings Attached tour with my mom. She was as big of a fan as I was.

Your favorite bands/musicians today.

Victoria Monét, Remi Wolf, HUGEL, Tyla

One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on. 

Helping to introduce Paris Hilton’s avatar and establish it as a piece of intellectual property. We helped her introduce it to fans on social media with the announcement of her avatar’s virtual performance at Decentraland’s inaugural Metaverse Festival. During the four-day virtual event, all other artists used pre-recorded video of their sets on a 2D screen. Paris, on the other hand, offered an immersive experience, since her avatar was there dancing in the 3D space with the rest of the audience (see here). After this, we helped create other social activations to build recognition for her avatar. This led to Paris’ digital fashion release where fans could acquire and rock a piece from her Y2K collection on their own Genie avatar.

A recent project you’re proud of.

Just launched Lay Bankz’s avatar. It has its own social accounts that will strategically cross over to her main channels. This is the start of a much larger plan. I believe it will set a precedent for how to properly build avatar IP.

One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.

The creativity stemming from the importance of identifying and hyper-serving your superfans. Superfans spend 68 percent more money than average listeners and their social signaling and engagement can influence non-fans to become fans. So, besides the desire to give back to those who love you most, harnessing superfandom promotes longevity and success for artists in an era where attention is limited and choice is endless. In addition to special access or perks, superfans really want to interact with and impact an artist. I believe avatar and AI technology will continue to help address this need.

Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.

Growing up as a dancer, I’ve been a huge fan of choreographer Parris Goebel. Her recent work for Doja Cat’s Coachella performance was *chef’s kiss*

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, which gives unique insight into human behavior through the lens of a psychotherapist. This book inspired me to look at my thoughts and habits differently and increased the amount of empathy I have for others. 

Your favorite fictional character.

Any character from the Harry Potter series. Except Dolores Umbridge—we hate her.

Someone worth following on social media.

@benmeer! He posts about systems that will optimize and brighten your life.

Your main strength as a marketer/creative.

Being able to put myself in the shoes of the artist or my audience.

Your biggest weakness.

Finding the free time to stay up to date on all the latest trends on a consistent basis!

Something people would find surprising about you.

I am a huge sci-fi and fantasy nerd. Love the Dune and Red Rising series. 

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.

One of my majors in college was psychology, so definitely something in that field—either research or therapy.

The post Sydney Wiklund, Manager of Creator Partnerships at Genies, on Hyper-Serving Your Superfans first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Simon  is the North American executive creative director at Kraft Heinz’s internal agency, The Kitchen. Under his leadership, the group has expanded to over 100+ team members overseeing 15 brands in just two years. Beyond his contributions to The Kitchen, Simon is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry, particularly championing BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation throughout his career.

We spent two minutes with Simon to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.

Simon, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

Born in Hong Kong. Grew up mostly in Canada. Living in Toronto now.

How you first realized you were creative.

I would draw on every piece of paper that I could find when I was young. 

A person you idolized creatively early on.

Madonna. Her constant creative reinvention was inspiring.

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

I studied in the U.K. and went to the V&A Museum where they had an exhibition of the best advertising of the past 50 years. I realized then that’s what I wanted to do in my life. 

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

Anish Kapoor 

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

I followed TikTok and read A Little Life. And yes I did cry like everyone else did on the platform. 

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on.

Uber’s “Keeping the Streets Safe with the Safe Breathalyzer” 

A recent project you’re proud of.

#FindTheKetchupBoatGuy

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago. 

Sony Bravia’s “Colour Like No Other.” The visuals! The SOUNDTRACK!

Someone else’s work you admired lately. 

Doordash—all the ads.

Your main strength as a creative person.

I’m in a constant state of curiosity about new things. 

Your biggest weakness.

Impatience to get things done.

A mentor that helped you navigate the industry.

Arthur Fleischmann, CEO of John St. He taught me things about the industry beyond just the creative. 

How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.

We host an open house for LGBTQ+ creatives to help them break into the industry.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.

Architect.

The post 2 Minutes With … Simon Au, ECD of The Kitchen first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Marcos is currently partner and chief creative officer at Le Truc. Previously he was the CCO at Ogilvy N.Y., helping steer the agency, working with such clients as  Absolut Vodka, Audi, IBM, Zippo and the New York Philharmonic. Prior to that, Marcos was executive creative director at BBDO where he produced some of the agency’s most innovative work and helped implement new ways to evolve the creative department.

We spent two minutes with Marcos to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.

Marcos, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in Brazil—the land where even toy trains get Cannes Lions. I currently live in Brooklyn—the land where zero people care about Cannes Lions.

How you first realized you were creative.

I might be a late bloomer (still waiting for that moment to happen).

A person you idolize creatively early on.

Tibor Kalman, the original editor of Colors Magazine. Colors was like the print version of the internet in the early-90s. It was inspiring to see a designer in the role of global culture commentator.

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

When I got accepted into The Cooper Union and moved to NYC on a full scholarship. That’s when I started taking academic life seriously. 

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

Visual artist: I’ve been really into Japanese printmaker Hasui Kawase, for his simple yet powerful landscapes that not only transport you but also feel strangely familiar. He’s not super well-known, but is a major influence to many, including Studio Ghibli, the famed animators in Tokyo.

Musician: Prince, for being a genius and also playing every instrument on his recordings and doing it better than anyone else. 

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

Any documentary by Adam Curtis, who builds some of the sharpest cultural narratives using B-roll from the BBC archives. TraumaZone, his latest series on Russia, is a masterpiece.

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on.

“From Love to Bingo” for Getty Images. I had just switched from the design department to creative and was craving a big film brief that, obviously, no ECD in their right mind would give me. So, I reached out to Getty. The budget was not nearly enough to cover the hours needed for research and editing. So, my partner Sophie Schoemburg and I rolled up our sleeves and did it all ourselves. One. Painful. Image. At. A. Time. I legit was traumatized from navigating the Getty site. Thankfully, it paid off. It was one of the first Brazilian commercials to go viral. It picked up some nice awards, drawing attention to my portfolio. It became my ticket to start a new chapter of my career in the U.S. Most importantly, it encoded this “don’t overthink, do it” mentality that I still carry. We did it all again and made a second film the following year.

A recent project you’re proud of. 

Here’s two…

Publicis Groupe’s “Working With Cancer”–an industry-wide pledge to grant job security to employees who receive a diagnosis. I am proud of this one on many levels. First, for the impact it’s making on employees’ lives worldwide. It’s incredible to see a holding company so supportive. It’s also very personal, as I lost my mother to cancer a few years ago. 

And here’s a Holiday ad we made for Snyder’s pretzels that uses one of my favorite insights ever:

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago. 

Everybody’s favorite ad: Guinness “Surfer” directed by Jonathan Glazer. I saw it on TV while visiting London, in a pub, holding a beer. My 20-year-old brain exploded to bits. I think Glazer does effortlessly the hardest thing ever: he creates images that are completely original. I’ve sent him countless scripts and he always ignores me. 

Someone else’s work you admired lately.

This film: “Best Friends” from Uber One

This Animation: Channel 4 idents 2023

This brand: Teenage Engineering

Your main strength as a creative person.

Not having a traditional advertising background, I usually approach things from an unexpected angle. I also have mutant-grade hearing. I can hear things outside the human spectrum. I drive sound mixers insane.

Your biggest weakness.

I sometimes catch myself writing strategy slides. The worst strategy slides.

A mentor who helped you navigate the industry.

Marcello Serpa (a massive legend in Brazil) for teaching me how high to set the bar. My former partner Danilo Boer, who tap dances around the industry while most of us crawl. And Publicis chief strategy officer and Le Truc president Carla Serrano, for proving that if you’re not hands-on, you’re not a leader.

How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.

By trying to create a model that’s free from the forces that curb creativity. A collective with a flat hierarchy where young creatives can work with leadership on big projects. Free from politics and fears that can paralyze and swirl. With resources to experiment, prototype and create. I don’t mean to turn this into a plug for Le Truc, but I’m excited about what we’re building here. I think the young me would love working here just as much as the old me.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.

DJ. Wait, that might be my mid-life crisis kicking in.

The post Marcos Kotlhar, Partner and CCO at Le Truc, on His ‘Mutant-Grade Hearing’ and Creative Philosophy first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Debbi is global chief creative officer at VML, which delivers integrated campaigns for Colgate-Palmolive, Danone, Dell, Ford, Intel, Sam’s Club and Wendy’s. She led the merger of VML and Y&R in 2018. Then, in 2020, Debbi helped bring Geometry into the fold.

We spent two minutes with Debbi to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired.

Debbi, tell us …

Where you grew up and where you live now.

I grew up in Kansas City and live there now. I feel lucky to have been a part of VML’s rise and have a career I love in a vibrant city I love.

How you first realized you were creative.

I knew I loved art in grade school. I went to the art studio during my free time, where I could paint, draw and make ceramics. My confidence and abilities grew. As a side note, it was wonderful to see my daughter follow that same path.

A person you idolized creatively early on.

My art teachers. They were cooler than the other teachers. And they influenced me to explore my creativity in different ways. In college, Matthew Gaynor (who studied under Paul Rand at Yale) encouraged me to make the switch from illustration to design. I never would have had the career I’ve enjoyed if I hadn’t discovered design.

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

Through a friend in high school, I met a respected local designer and business owner who explained his journey and showed me around his agency. I remember having the realization that I could own my own business, and that it could be built around doing something I loved.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec has always been one of my favorites. His work feels so “real”—a little messy, but colorful and mesmerizing. I love how his paintings draw you in, making you feel like a witness to little slices of bohemian life in Paris in the 19^th century.

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

I just finished reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I admire her ability to create a fantasy world with its own set of rules. The series depicts a brutal, elite war college for dragon riders where, like in advertising, you are constantly being judged. It occurred to me that clients could be compared to dragons—you either bond with them or … you don’t.

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on.

I don’t always get a chance to be in the trenches. That’s why I’m proud to have been on the team that created Bumble’s first Super Bowl ad, which starred Serena Williams. It was an all-female team—one that included my daughter, Kylie, now a creative director at VML New York.

A recent project you’re proud of.

Guidelines can be limiting. You can imagine how carefully crafted and refined such rules are for a 140-year-old brand like Coca-Cola. That’s what I love so much about this recent project: Coke-Creating. We searched all corners of the world—Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Australia and the United States—for the purest, most unexpected expressions of the brand. We celebrated these passionate Coke Creators with an art exhibit, coffee table book and a place on our iconic cans.

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago.

I loved this Coca-Cola spot from Argentina from the first moment I saw it. It sums up the joys, little annoyances and delights of parenthood in a powerful way.

Someone else’s work you admired lately.

The Pringles work from the Super Bowl by Grey was really fun. It used an entertaining, personable celebrity—Chris Pratt—in just the right way to build affinity. Plus, they extended the campaign in smart, engaging ways.

Your main strength as a creative person.

Decisiveness. I know when to trust my gut and how to get a team moving in the best possible direction as quickly as possible.

Your biggest weakness.

My decisiveness is likely my biggest weakness as well. It means we may not fully explore all the directions. But when push comes to shove, I believe this industry is so subjective that the sooner a decision can be made to move in a smart direction—and allow plenty of time to craft the work—the better.

A mentor who helped you navigate the industry.

I’ve had many mentors. Charlotte Beers and many other women at WPP helped me. Susan Credle and Colleen DeCourcy set great examples, showing me how to be a creative leader with strength, grace and wisdom. Tony Granger taught me how to lead and refine great work. The biggest has been our global CEO Jon Cook. We have a partnership, and we complement each other. Yet, we also push each other to get better and stronger.

How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.

I try to set an example every day for the next generation. With two daughters in the industry, it’s also important to ensure we provide opportunities and grow even more accepting of women and diverse talent. Their unique perspectives will continue to make the ideas stronger and more powerful.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.

My not-so-secret passion is interior design. I think I could make a go of it if this advertising thing doesn’t pan out.

The post 2 Minutes With … Debbi Vandeven, Global CCO of VML first appeared on Muse by Clios.

Andrew Beranbom | Photo illustration by Ashley Epping

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Jun 27 2023 – 2:45pm

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