Today, FCB Chicago expands its talent roster by appointing Kim DeNapoli to serve as the new leader of its experiential practice, FCBX. DeNapoli joins the firm as Executive Vice President, Head of FCBX and will report directly to FCB Chicago President and CEO Michael Fassnacht. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the operation of the function while leading collaboration efforts with several other teams such as creative, digital, and social to deliver integrated activations and events.
“Kim is an amazing, knowledgeable leader with a deep understanding of how consumer activation, creative, and digital channels effectively work together,” said Fassnacht. “That’s why we’re excited to have her lead our experiential practice, FCBX, and further elevate live events into purposeful brand experiences.”
DeNapoli comes to FCB Chicago from Ogilvy & Mather, where she served as Department Lead and Executive Producer of Experiential & Content Development. During that time, DeNapoli led the strategy and creation of both activations and their supporting digital content.
Prior to Ogilvy, DeNapoli worked at Geometry Global and GMR Marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience to FCB Chicago. She’s worked for an array of clients in a variety of industries, leading strategy, consulting and experiential production for several top brands such as SC Johnson, Ford, Unilever, IBM, BlueCross BlueShield, Kimberly Clark, Mondelēz, Morton Salt, and American Airlines.
“FCB Chicago has a great list of clients, produces exciting creative work, and continues to see incredible growth, so I am thrilled to join the team and lead FCBX,” says DeNapoli. “It’s the perfect time, with the continued importance of social and digital, to develop integrated experiences that tell a seamless, authentic brand story.”
For DeNapoli, the opportunity to uniquely blend the offline experience with today’s highly online marketplace is an exciting one that she deeply believes will contribute to how consumers perceive a brand.
“In a mobile first world where a brand can be scrolled past in a flash, physical connection and participation are going to become more and more important,” says DeNapoli. “Consumers have higher expectations and more choices, so experiential serves as a powerful tool, creating opportunities that will engage them on a whole new personal and communal level.”
DeNapoli takes over for Dee Hall, who joined FCB Chicago 12 years ago, bringing years of prior experience and an established event marketing firm to join forces with the sports marketing group at FCB Chicago. She immediately rose to lead the newly combined function, later rebranded as FCBX. Hall will continue to provide support on select initiatives and clients over the next few months.
The continued growth and expansion at FCB Chicago underscores the agency’s focus on increasing its offerings. Last month, the agency announced its acquisition of premier environmental design firm Chute Gerdeman, which will align with FCB/RED to focus on retail and shopper marketing initiatives.