Hapa’nings | October 5, 2026
Hapa Represents · Intel for our production partners
Who moved, what shot, who's pitching, and what's open in commercial production. Pulled from the trades, cut down to what matters, twice a week.
Roll003
DateMon · Oct 5
CoversSep 28–Oct 4
Who moved
16- Jay Sotomayor joins CRYSTAL (Portland sound house) as senior producer, from Digital One.
New work
28 spots with creditsAlso out: Ad Council "The Secret to Motherhood" (Mischief), Carnival × Guy Fieri cruise fashion line (TBWA\Chiat\Day NY), TJ Maxx "Never Uniform, Always You" (Ogilvy USA), ARAG "The Great Winheritance" with Kathy Najimy (BarkleyOKRP), Amex turns Harry Styles fandom into a card perk, HSBC "ride the wave" trust film, Faith In Nature × The Shamen (Dream Quickly), Kirkens Korshaer digital-cosmetics resale (NORD), Dunkin' pumpkin spice sketch with Rachel Dratch at the VMAs, Coach × Spotify "The Tabby Tour."
Pharma pulse
8- AwardsMM+M Awards winners: Titanium to Novartis "Relax Your Tight End" (Digitas Health, Fallon). Real Chemistry's 21Grams is Large Healthcare Agency of the Year. Best Use of Film: Nestlé Compleat "Inch by Inch" (Klick Health).
- Account winNeurocrine picks Ruder Finn as communications AOR.
- 120/80 Health Group restructures into a holding group with expanded leadership, moving past traditional PR.
- Skyrizi holds the top spot in August pharma TV. Pharma impressions on WNBA games up 289% year over year.
- Pharma and trust: marketers lean on GEO, "human-in-the-lead" AI and access messaging to rebuild trust.
- Real Chemistry launches MaestroHCP, an AI platform built with AWS that picks channels and tactics for HCP campaigns.
- Merck's Conrod Kelly on its new HIV campaign, built around a cultural moment.
- BlackDoctor names its first medical advisory board, eight physicians.
Pitches & business
12- Account winDoorDash names WPP Media its first global media partner (DoorDash, Deliveroo, Wolt).
- WFA report: more clients are moving agencies from time-based fees to payment by results.
- Delta Air Lines is building an ad business and hires Keri Paison to lead its media network.
- Amazon rebuilds its ad platform around AI agents.
- The Roots opens an office in Medellín, Colombia, its fifth in Latin America.
- Simian launches a new ecosystem: reel presentations, websites, media management and client review in one platform.
- Canva launches ProSuite, tying together Affinity, Cavalry, Flourish and Leonardo.
- ProductionRed Antler launches Fat Earth Studios, an in-house creator and UGC content studio, pitched as the human answer to AI content.
- Runway launches an ad agent that remakes spots, spins out versions and tracks results on Meta, Google and TikTok.
- Shamrock Capital takes a majority stake in Saylor and merges it with gaming agency Mutiny.
- Currys wins the IPA Effectiveness Grand Prix with AMV BBDO and Spark Foundry.
- Framestore turns 40. It started on A-ha's "Take On Me" in 1986.
Signings
12- Andzej Gavriss joins Stadium for US commercials.
- Yousef Thami signs with MindsEye for the UK.
- Zach & Ryan (Zach Shenouda, Ryan Robinson), comedy duo, sign with 6DEGREES Films.
- Lucy Knox and Owen Kasparian join Institute for US commercials.
- Zak Razvi returns to Furlined for the US.
- Perry Gershkow joins Underhill.
- Ben Pier, director and photographer, signs with Greencard Pictures.
- John Hillcoat joins La Pac.
- Jonny Look, comedy director, signs with Blinkink for the US and Europe.
- Lukas Tielke (BMW, Porsche, Adidas) signs with Stadium, his first US rep.
- Gracie Koh (Chicago) joins Sibling Rivalry.
- Guin Frehling named first EP at LA sound studio Concret Form.
Dates & deadlines
9- shots Awards Asia Pacific 2026: winners announced.
- CICLOPE 2026: shortlist out. Festival Oct 6–8, Berlin.
- Ad Club Women's Leadership Forum: Mar 23, 2027, Gillette Stadium.
- Advertising Week New York: Oct 5–8, The Penn District.
- Cresta 2026 Of The Year: Riff Raff Films is Production Company of the Year. BigTime Creative Shop is Agency of the Year, BBDO Network of the Year.
- HATCH 65: Oct 27, Royale, Boston. Steve Connelly gets the Jack Connors Lifetime Achievement Award.
- MM+M Media Summit: Oct 29.
- Kinsale Sharks Design: entries close Oct 31.
- UK Music Video Awards: nominations out. Show Nov 4, Roundhouse. Charli XCX leads with 9.