Amanda Blackman Joins AKA NYC as SVP of Creative Strategy & Experiential Design

Entertainment marketing agency AKA NYC has appointed Amanda LaFollette Blackman to the newly-created post of Senior Vice President of Creative Strategy and Experiential Design. Blackman will head the agency's experiential offering as its creative lead, developing and overseeing the execution of experiential opportunities and initiatives for AKA's theatrical and destination clients. She will also collaborate with other agency departments in driving integrated, idea-led thinking company-wide.

"Since our inception, AKA has forged the way in introducing new approaches and service offerings to the theatrical advertising space." said AKA Managing Partner Elizabeth Furze. "With the diminished impact of interruptive advertising in today's consumer-controlled economy, experiential initiatives have become essential to effective, integrated campaigns. We are delighted to welcome Amanda's talent and unique experience to drive AKA's experiential offering forward. She brings a wonderful pedigree in experiential marketing, exceptional insight into the culture of entertainment, and a talent for thinking big. We are thrilled to have her join our team."

Blackman comes to AKA from brand experience agency FreemanXP where she was VP, Group Creative Director. Prior to which she spent 11 years at Jack Morton Worldwide, one of the world's leading experiential agencies, working with clients including American Airlines, Procter & Gamble, MTV, Walmart and Microsoft. She earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.

"I am excited to join AKA and re-engage with my first love: the theater," said Blackman. "I believe passionately in storytelling, the power of ideas and the experience economy. I have been a creative director of theater, television, public events, brand experiences and campaigns. What all those things have in common is that they are about an artist, person or brand sharing a story with an important audience. That's what I do, that's what I'm passionate about, and why I'm so excited to join AKA in forging the preeminent entertainment agency for today, and for the future."

Blackman joins the senior team including Managing Partners Elizabeth Furze and Scott Moore, Executive Creative Director Bashan Aquart, VP/Digital Sarah Borenstein, VP/Insights and Marketing Janette Roush, Director of Client Services Elizabeth Findlay, Director of Agency Partnerships Elyce Henkin, Director of Account Strategy Melissa Marano, Director of Production Services Billy Mitchell, Content Director Jamaal Parham, Director of Media Joshua Poole and Director of Finance Ricardo Whitely.

Recent examples of AKA's experiential work for CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY below:

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: AKA transformed the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre into a fantastical Wonka factory, complete with a multitude of fun interactive activations to extend the experience and foster consumer engagement and wide social sharing.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: Extending the experience throughout the theatre, AKA forged a partnership with Dylan's Candy Bar. The Lunt-Fontanne's three concessions areas were redesigned into the newly renovated "Chocolate Bar", "Candy Bar" and "Wonka Empori-Yum".

AKA is a global, full-service advertising agency with offices in the US, UK and Australia. The AKA Group, including Digital Media Services and the film advertising agency The Creative Partnership, delivers creative, strategic and insightful campaigns to the entertainment and culture industries worldwide.

The New York office, Led by Elizabeth Furze & Scott Moore has a proven record for producing sales-driven campaigns that engage potential audiences from first contact to final sale.

Current and recent NYC clients include: Entertainment: Anastasia, The Band's Visit, Big Apple Circus, A Bronx Tale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come From Away, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons, M. Butterfly, Miss Saigon, Once on this Island, MTC Destinations: Empire Outlets, New York Botanical Gardens and New York Wheel.

For more information, visit aka.nyc.

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