Saddington Baynes Hires Jigisha Bouverat

Hybrid creative studio Saddington Baynes has appointed Jigisha Bouverat from TBWA \ Chiat \ Day as its new Managing Director to spearhead the imminent launch of their new L.A. office.

Bouverat has left her post as Director of Art Production after 24 years where she formed the team of Art Producers responsible for revolutionising the creative and business processes at the renowned agency. During her time there, she worked with a roster of world-class creators and artists in producing some of the most memorable and awarded advertising campaigns in the US.

In 2003, she personally setup two new divisions to improve efficiencies and profitability; ARTHAUS, an in-house digital studio providing high-end services for creative retouching and The Loupe, a home-grown asset management system for campaign assets. 

In her new role, she will be responsible for leading new business and creative production initiatives in the US, working directly with Saddington Baynes’ London headquarters. Bouverat said: “A Los Angeles office will see us collaborating more closely with our clients as we will be working on the same time zone, something I know they’ll be really excited about. Year one and two will see us take our core services global. We will continue partnering with our current clients in agencies and brands as well as expanding into new territories and sectors. Establishing offices in the Pacific Rim will offer Saddington Baynes the opportunities to expand into emerging markets, like Southeast Asia.

The move has come as a natural next step for Bouverat, having worked with Saddington Baynes since the mid-Nineties. She continues: “I’ve always had an excellent relationship with the team at SB and have always had the highest regard for the level of creativity and innovation they bring to each of their projects. I greatly admire their vision for the future and am delighted to be a part of this exciting new journey.”

Beyond her experience at the agency, Bouverat has judged and has been a panel member at some of the industry’s most esteemed award shows and conferences. Most recently she judged D&AD Awards, The APA SF Photography Awards, The Lucie’s, APALA, AtEdge and was a curator for the TBWA/Chiat/Day Gallery artspace.

Saddington Baynes’ CEO Chris Christodoulou is excited about the new opportunities that will arise from opening a local studio. He said: “We have a long heritage of working with the West Coast as a creative partner and can now bring the full benefit of that experience by shortening the distance and removing the difference in time zones. Beyond the great collection of creative agencies out West, there is the technology sector in Silicon Valley and the start-up automotive businesses, the web tech in San Francisco, as well as the entertainment industry. Having a local office means we can more easily reach these sectors.”

“I have known Jigisha for nearly 17 years and she has seen SB evolve over that time. It’s wonderful to have someone as well-respected and established as her join our team.”

Saddington Baynes L.A. will be looking to hire six to eight new employees in the first six months. Initially, the team will consist of artists & producers.