Digital Agency Kettle Hires CD and Senior Producer

New York-based digital agency Kettle is continuing its rapid growth and bi-coastal expansion with two new hires, tapping Amanda Hughes-Watkins as Creative Director and Crystal Ginn as Senior Producer. Hughes-Watkins and Ginn represent the first of a wave of new hires resulting from the agency’s growth across new business and its evolution of existing client relationships.

Hughes-Watkins, based in San Francisco, will cultivate a dynamic creative team to further Kettle’s bi-coastal offerings. She joins Kettle after spending the last two years as a Creative Director at Digitas San Francisco, where she led the creative work for eBay, Paypal and Kraft/Taco Bell Sauces. While there, her excellence in digital advertising was recognized with a Clio, Webby, MIXX, OMMA, and Communication Arts award. Prior to Digitas San Francisco, Amanda worked at R/GA San Francisco on Microsoft. Throughout her career, she has worked with brands like Old Navy, Conde Nast, Lexus, Macy’s and Yahoo! and brings a unique perspective of retail and advertising to the digital space.

“Amanda’s creative prowess will be absolutely instrumental in leading the direction of our West Coast team as we continue building the most innovative digital solutions for our clients here and come up with exciting strategies for new ones,” said Olivier Peyre, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Kettle.

Ginn will lead cross-functional teams as they design the breakthrough experiences that clients have come to expect from the agency. Long-time accounts like American Express as well as more recent wins like Penguin will fall under her direction.

Ginn comes to Kettle with experience as Director of Production at AREA 17, where she led work with brands like Google Chrome, Billboard, SPIN and Dering Hall. Prior to that, she worked at agencies including Razorfish, Syrup (LBi), Coty Prestige and createthe group with Axe, Marc Jacobs, Gwen Stefani Fragrances, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein X Underwear, Polo Ralph Lauren, David Yurman and Juicy Couture. She started her career at JWT and then Siegel+Gale.

Lauren Diamond Kushner, Partner and Executive Producer at Kettle, said, “Crystal is the perfect addition to our growing team. She has a knack for problem solving and a unique ability to see the big picture as well as subtle details.”