Entertainment branding agency loyalkaspar announced the addition of chief development officer Robert Blatchford and creative director Anna Minkkinen. Blatchford will be based in the company’s new L.A. office, while Minkkinen will be based in New York.
“We created the chief development officer position specifically for Robert,” explained Beat Baudenbacher, loyalkaspar principal/chief creative officer. “His strong understanding of business-building will be invaluable, not only for our clients’ branding and marketing initiatives, but also for us as we continue to grow as a company. A big part of that growth is hiring the right creatives to spearhead our range of projects, and that’s where Anna comes in. She’s a talented storyteller who brings tremendous insight into creating work that is smart, original and effective.”
Blatchford was most recently director of business development at Troika, a position he held for eight years. Spearheading all strategic marketing, PR and sales efforts, he played an instrumental role in its evolution from a boutique design shop to a brand consultancy and creative agency. Clients included The CW, AMC, FOX, Canal+, A&E, Food Network, NBC Sports, Starz, Madison Square Garden and EA Sports.
Minkkinen comes to loyalkaspar after seven years at design studio Trollbäck + Company. An Emmy-nominated creative director, she has worked on campaigns for such clients as Nickelodeon, TNT, TVLand, Sesame Street, P&G, Calvin Klein, Sundance Channel and MetLife. Minkkinen has designed for all manner of venues, ranging from experiential installations, giant stadium displays and museums to commercials, broadcast networks and feature films. In addition, she has directed live-action promo campaigns for clients including A&E and Nickelodeon.
“There’s a nice collaborative environment here,” said Minkkinen. “David and Beat are not only accessible and easy to work with, but they also have a real passion for figuring out how to make a brand special.”
