18 Feet & Rising Hires Greg Hemes

18 Feet & Rising has hired Saatchi & Saatchi’s Greg Hemes as its first executive head of production and set up its own in-house production arm, Make Made.

Hemes, who was previously executive producer at Saatchi & Saatchi, has been hired to give production a voice at the most senior level within the agency.

He will be responsible for the management of the agency from a production point of view across all accounts. Hemes will also oversee the agency’s new Make Made production subsidiary in which he take have a direct profit share. 

Make Made has been set up as an extension to main agency’s offering, and will operate as a wholly owned production facility. 

Hemes was at Saatchi & Saatchi for over three years, working on key accounts including T-Mobile, Guinness, and Toyota. During his time there, he lead the team behind the T-Mobile “Welcome Back” campaign which won three BTAA Gold awards in 2011 as well as a Gold Lion at Cannes in the Outdoor Stunts & Live category.

Prior to Saatchi & Saatchi, Hemes worked as a producer at production companies including Outside, Bermuda Shorts and Partizan.

Jonathan Trimble, 18 Feet & Rising’s chief executive, said: “It’s a big role and it’s taken over a year to find the right person. We’re giving Greg the autonomy to help develop the agency, not just its production department or TV output.”

Hemes said: “18 Feet & Rising is putting production front and centre of the agency, with an equal footing alongside the management team. This made it different from the typical ‘head of’ roles I considered. I am surprised, delighted and nervous.”