Spark44 brings Josh Rubin and Fred Sanicola onboard, bringing deep creative knowledge and expertise
The first client/agency global joint venture, Spark44 announced the appointment of Josh Rubin and Fred Sanicola as Executive Creative Directors in North America. Leveraging their long and successful history together, the duo serve as the creative leads for Jaguar Land Rover as well as other global projects managed by Spark44.
When speaking to Rubin and Sanicola, it was clear both had a desire to work at an agency with a global reach, whilst retaining a boutique feel.
“With a solid presence in many areas around the world, Spark44 has a culture that allows us to act locally whilst leveraging our global footprint when needed,” explained Rubin. “We are excited to work with a team of incredibly talented communications professionals at such a creatively driven agency.”
Rubin and Sanicola bring their award-winning portfolios to Spark44, including the work they served as Group Creative Directors for American Express, in which they oversaw the global launch of the Lin-Manuel Miranda campaign and the current Small Business Saturday initiative.
Sanicola commented, “Spark44 is an agency that is radically transforming brands and businesses with its ‘Big Lean Thinking’ strategy. They offer a unique opportunity to work on these iconic global brands, but in a setting designed to shape culture rather than just react to it, which is appealing to any creative.”
During their many years in the advertising industry, Rubin and Sanicola have held creative leadership roles at BBH, Saatchi, Huge, Grey, and KBS, working with brands including Google, Netflix, Samsung, Chipotle, Facebook, Puma, Audi, NFL, BMW, Ketel One and the Whitney Museum.
The news of Rubin and Sanicola comes just a few months after Spark44 appointed Hendrik Janse van Rensburg as Managing Director of the United States and Canada.
Janse van Rensburg commented, “Josh has managed and developed content for the world’s most progressive-thinking companies. Fred’s design and art direction skills have helped define and launch iconic brands. They are both incredible additions to the Spark44 family. With a new leadership team now in place, we will continue to create compelling creative as well as continue to grow and expand in North America.”
Spark44’s work with Jaguar Land Rover has received multiple awards over the last seven years, most recently winning two Gold British Arrows, a Gold Creativepool, a Campaign BIG and a Silver Effie for the Range Rover Sport “Dragon Challenge”. Janse van Rensburg noted that there is more to come.
