Craft Announces Key New Hires And Promotions Across Its New York And Boston Studios

NEW YORK, and FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Craft, a global marketing production and adaptation agency and a division of McCann Worldgroup, today announced key hires and promotions in its New York and Boston studio locations. Shay Fu has been promoted to North America Head of Studio Operations, Craft; Michael Marsan joins as Director of Operations, Sales & Marketing, Craft Translation; and Brian Distefano has been appointed Managing Director, Craft Boston, which was added to Craft's global network of core studios in July 2016.

Fu, previously EVP/Head of Integrated Operations, Craft New York, will extend her role to oversee production operations in the U.S. and Canada as Head of Studio Operations across Craft's North America network. Since joining McCann Worldgroup in 2013, Fu has successfully grown the New York studio operations across all disciplines and has built its digital production capabilities.  She most recently led efforts to optimize studio operations at Craft Health in Parsippany, New Jersey. 

Ed Powers, CEO, Craft said: "Shay has done a great job helping our clients and procurement teams integrate production services and has been integral to developing effective workflows for major clients like Microsoft, Mastercard, Chick-fil-A and L'Oréal." 

As head of operations at Craft Translation, Marsan will implement best practices in operations and sales while instilling an overall culture of excellence and client focus. He brings over 20 years' experience in building international operations and sales teams, having occupied senior management roles at some of the leading global translation and transcreation houses. Marsan has won and overseen relationships with accounts that include Microsoft, Aetna, and MetLife, and has overseen production operations in 18 countries. 

Robert Sprung, Managing Director, Craft Translation said: "Michael brings with him broad experience in building cutting-edge language solutions for global brands, uniting linguistic quality, scalable and efficient process, and innovative technologies."

In his new role as Managing Director, Distefano will be responsible for all functions of the Craft Boston office including creative and production services, and for maintaining its track record of high performance, including improvements in productivity and cost efficiencies.  

Powers continued: "Our Craft Boston crew is a dynamic, full-service team, deeply experienced in all disciplines with core strengths in retail and B2B. Brian is a charismatic leader and will lead an office that boasts Staples as its full-service in-house account."

Distefano began his career as a copywriter at Staples, Inc., rising to Group Creative Director, where he was responsible for overall creative excellence leading the cross-functional, cross-business-unit creative team.

Craft expanded its relationship with Staples earlier this year by integrating the retailer's in-house creative and production services department into its operations, adding Craft Boston to its global lineup of core studios. 

About Craft:  
As one of the industry's largest global production. adaptation, and translation networks, Craft, a division of McCann Worldgroup,  delivers world-class, scalable production services across the full range of print, digital, and video content for many world-class brands, helping drive efficiency in the delivery of their global content and marketing communications.

About McCann Worldgroup   
McCann Worldgroup, part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), is a leading global marketing-services company with 24,000 employees in more than 100 countries, comprising McCann (advertising), MRM//McCann (digital marketing/relationship management), Momentum Worldwide (total brand experience), McCann Health (professional/dtc communications), CRAFT (global production and adaptation), UM (media management), Weber Shandwick (public relations), FutureBrand (consulting/design), ChaseDesign (shopper marketing) and PMK-BNC (entertainment/brand/popular culture).

SOURCE McCann Worldgroup