JWT New York today announced the appointment of Jill Applebaum as creative director. Applebaum will work on Diageo’s Smirnoff and Nestlé’s Skinny Cow brands, among others.
Applebaum joins JWT from Draftfcb New York, where she served as SVP, Group Creative Director, overseeing creative development for Kraft’s Oreo brand. This included the recent highly acclaimed Oreo Daily Twist program—an initiative to push out 100 pieces of content over 100 days to celebrate Oreo’s 100th anniversary. Highlights included the “Pride Cookie,” “Mars Rover Landing” and the “Wicked Witch of the West”–influenced Halloween effort.
"In one day, Jill got the whole world talking about a 100-year-old cookie. We can't wait to see what she does in her time here,” said Matt MacDonald, Co-Chief Creative Officer, JWT New York.
Ryan Kutscher, Co-Chief Creative Officer, JWT New York, added, “The goal for this agency is to be great, and that means filling it with great people. So we're stoked that Jill is here. The evil plan nears completion.”
Prior to joining Draftfcb in 2011, Applebaum was creative director at Y&R/BrandBuzz, supervising the development of TV, print, digital and integrated campaigns for LG Electronics, Burt’s Bees, Jaguar, Sony, Tully’s Coffee and AT&T. She also has held creative and copywriting positions at Young & Rubicam, Ogilvy & Mather and D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles.
"I am thrilled to be joining such a phenomenally talented group of people,” said Applebaum. “JWT has tremendous momentum right now. I’m excited to be part of a team that has the creative drive to invent things that influence our world. It's a privilege to be coming aboard."
Throughout her career, Applebaum has produced award-winning work for clients across a wide range of categories, from packaged goods to luxury, and has been honored atshows including Cannes Lions, D&AD, London International Awards, AICP, the CLIO Awards and Art Directors Club.
Her work has been featured in a wide array of media outlets, ranging from Harvard Business Review, The New York Times and Fast Company to The Colbert Report and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Applebaum has served on multiple juries and is an instructor with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York and earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Maryland.