Hasta La Creative!

Publicis promoted Melissa Nelson to president of its Seattle office, Adweek reports.

In the newly-created position, Nelson will act as senior business lead for all accounts run out of the Seattle office, while reporting  directly to Publicis Worldwide North American CEO Andrew Bruce.

Nelson joined Publicis Seattle as executive vice president, managing partner last December and has led the agency’s T-Mobile account.

“Melissa’s leadership on T-Mobile and her passion for their brand and business will be enriched in her new post,” Bruce said in a statement. “Additionally, now her expertise and leadership will extend to all clients and the talented individuals who fuel our agency here in Seattle.”

Before joining Publicis, Nelson spent a year with Droga5 New York as group account director on the Motorola account (which the agency resigned in May), following three years as group brand director with 72andSunny L.A. Before that she spent four years as an account director with Goodby Silverstein & Partners, working with brands such as HP, Target and Chevrolet.

“Diving into and leading the T-Mobile business has been a phenomenal experience. It is an amazing brand, with a really strong POV,” Nelson said. “T-Mobile is a brand, and business, which is pivotal not only to the Seattle marketplace, but to our agency. I am proud to continue to partner with T-Mobile and additionally, to now lead, grow and expand Publicis in Seattle.”

Seattle-based independent creative agency Tether rounded out its creative leadership team with the additions of Hart Rusen as advertising creative director and Bill Allen as interactive creative director. Both join the agency from Publicis Seattle.

Rusen spent six years at Publics Seattle as a senior vice president and group creative director, working with clients including T-Mobile, KEXP and the Seattle Symphony. Prior to joining Publicis in May of 2009 he spent over four years as an associate creative director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, where his clients included Doritos, Cheetos, Hyundai, Budweiser, HP and Comcast. The San Diego State University grad has also worked with Cole & Weber, Moffatt/Rosenthal and R/West.

Allen spent over four years with Publicis Seattle as a creative director, during which time his clients included T-Mobile, KEXP, Les Schwab and the Experience Music Project. Prior to joining Publicis he spent around two years as interactive director with BooneOakley, working with clients such as Bojangles, Mizuno USA, and the Charlotte Bobcats. That followed a stint of almost three years as an associate creative director at 22squared, with clients such as Florida’s Natural, Buffalo Wild Wings and Lincoln Financial Group.

“At Tether clients benefit from teams that understand how brand strategy and design, immersive digital experiences and ad campaigns can build on each other to foster growth,” explained Rusen. “Brand affinity requires  more than great advertising; it takes a solid brand foundation that compels consumers to feel joy, and ideally spread positive word, with every engagement.”

Lowe Campbell Ewald created a new role for the latest addition to its L.A. team: executive strategy director Craig Kleber.

Kleber–who previously worked as chief strategy officer at DDB L.A.–will be tasked with leading the agency’s strategic planning efforts while also expanding its client roster. He’ll answer to president/managing director Angela Zepeda.

While at DDB, Kleber oversaw all agency strategy with a particular focus on client Wells Fargo’s “total marketing approach”; prior to that role, he was one of Hall & Partners‘ partners, overseeing various planning/research operations for Young & Rubicam and Wunderman Southern California. Kleber also held positions at Publicis Seattle, RPA and Suissa Miller, among others.

Google also tells us that he works well with puppies, which are more strategically challenging than one might think.

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