OUr People
DAVID LOPEZ ROTZETTER
Founder/ CEO
David’s Brand content marketing, digital publishing, and broadcasting first hand experience working with brand partners’s unique needs and challenges, is at the core of GoodNews Creative proposition and adaptive operational structure. In his previous mandate, at RECKITT, A Top 500 Global CPG Company, serving as Global Head of Content & Publishing, using his vast experience in the digital publishing industry, David led the category’s digital content transformation agenda, including its omnichannel strategy and implementation. At Condé Nast, as Global Head of Branded Entertainment, David built and led its Brand Entertainment Division. Previously, at Vice Media’s Global Brand Studio, he built a successful career in content production and operations, culminating as Head of Content Solutions & Partnerships. Forward-thinking, well-connected, and respected within the media and entertainment industries, David’s combination of business acumen, creative strategic and operational instinct has allowed him to build innovative solutions for brands like Amazon, AMC (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead), Absolut, AB InBev, La Perla, Roland Mouret, Prada, Puma, Durex, The Olympic Channel, and Tomorrowland to name a few…
KRISTIN-MARIE PERICANO
COO/ ATG Ventures Partner
Kristin brings over two decades of operational experience to Goodnews Creative. As a key member of our senior leadership team, KM will oversee our operational strategy, growth and success. Prior to joining the Goodnews Team, KM was a Vice President of Operations and Compliance, proprietary trading and equities sales and trading for top financial institutions such as Citi and Merrill Lynch. Kristin Mary started her career as a compliance officer at Goldman Sachs and currently splits her time between her work and adjunct professorship at New York University, Integrated Marketing Masters program, teaching Competitive Strategy and Finance for Marketing Decisions.
MELINA MANASSE
Chief Talent Officer
As part of the Goodnews senior executive leadership, Melina Manasse provides talent solutions and strategy to our client partners, as well as the Goodnews internal team; she is a crucial contributor to Goodnews Creative “Flex Impact” approach, putting the client‘s specific needs and objective at the core of its bespoke talent team structure. Before joining the team, Melina founded MKubed, a specialized talent solutions firm, after nearly half a decade on the client side as the Chief Talent Officer for MacAndrews & Forbes, Ronald O. Perelman's global, diversified investment and holding company in New York City where She built their in-house recruiting function from the ground up, focusing on strategic executive recruiting.
Melina previously ran the NY division of Talenthouse.com, an international online engagement marketing platform for artists and brands. She recruited thousands of artists globally to join the platform across film, photography, design, music, and fashion.
Melina also worked for William Morris Endeavor, managing various accounts for high-profile clients, including Revlon, American Express, and Project (RED). She was responsible for talent strategy, curation, new business, and the activation of celebrity brand partnerships.
Melina began her professional career in the hospitality sector, spending six years with the Soho House Group, where she co-led the construction, development, design, staffing, and opening of their flagship New York City property in the Meatpacking District. She also led sponsorship and development efforts for Soho House’s marquee events at the time, the Oscar House in Los Angeles and the Cannes Film Festival Villa in France.
COURTNEY VERDIER
Head Of Strategic Services
Former key member of Condé Nast senior global leadership team, responsible for the strategic business and creative mapping of its commercial and go-to-market plan, and industry thought leadership, research and global intelligence reports. Courtney is single handedly responsible for the relaunch of Bon Appétit & Epicurious, and redefined the Condé Nast brand 360 degree, full funnel, marketing strategies, elevating awareness, consideration and consumer engagement. Courtney started her career at VOGUE, where she grew the research service business by 220% for brand partners such as Estee Lauder, LVMH, and Cartier. Courtney is a key member of the Goodnews team, supporting our client partners’ strategic needs.
Czarina Hasbani
Head Of Account Services
Proud Nicaraguan with an unwavering work ethic, Czarina lives in NYC with her husband and four-legged son, a sweet cylinder-shaped pup named Arnold Taco.
Czarina brings 12+ years of experience working at top tier creative agencies 72andSunny and Mother, where she oversaw strategic and award winning brands such as Target, Facebook, 76ers, Cheerios, Carl's Jr/Hardee's and 23andMe, managing complex and challenging creative executions and, most importantly, developing long-lasting relationships and a spotless reputation in her field.
Whether it be with clients, third-party partners, internal teams or with everyday encounters, she stands by her philosophy: With respect, trust, and even healthy debates strong relationships pave the way to impactful and meaningful work.
TAYLOR MICHELLE GERARD
Head of Creative Strategy
NYC-born and bred, results-driven Creative Content Marketer. More about me? I design stickers for fun, my Animal Crossing island took me 100 hours to perfect, I’m passionate about obscurities of the mind and subcultural phenomena, and I’m cringing through writing about myself at this very moment. I’m also committed to creative excellence, persistently passionate about the details (otherwise known as what makes the design!!), and pretty obsessed with the breaking of processes and conventions that no longer serve the world we live in today. I’ve spent time working within agencies and publishers big and small across creative strategy, video and photo production, experiential, live and creator/influencer partnerships for brands, and have a decently well-rounded perspective on their inner-workings.
I “cut my teeth” in footwear and streetwear marketing, and have produced and creative-directed countless digital and physical activations for heavyweight brands like Timberland, Reebok, Petco, eBay, Amazon Prime Video and many more. One could say I found my steez at then-Complex Media Network property 12ozProphet where I helped to build its agency capability. But the truth is that I always loved skate culture.
Prior to joining the Goodnews Team collective, I lead the Creative & Creator (influencer to some) teams at Blue Hour Studios, the social-led affiliate agency of Horizon Media.
SIMON SANKKARAYA
Executive Creative Director
Simon brings over 3 decades of experience in the Creative field, with an holistic understanding of the creative process and omnichannel execution. As an Experienced Executive and Creative Director, with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment industry. Skilled in Digital Strategy, Digital Marketing, Corporate Identity, Digital Media, and User Experience (UX), he has worked with some of the top Publishers on the globe, including I-D Magazine, VICE Media and Conde Nast, and created award winning work for world renown Brand’s such as AB Inbev, Adidas, Puma, Chanel, Red Bull to name a few….Sanky is a consumate arts and design professional with a BA focused in Graphic Design from Nottingham Trent University.
REGGIE VAN NURDEN
Executive Creative Director
Reginald is a NYC based Creative Director specializing in 360 campaigns across fashion, luxury and lifestyle brands. He began his career as an experimental filmmaker and classically trained pianist turned solo recording artist, making records as Van North. His work includes some of the top fashion, beauty and lifestyle household names such as Oscar De La Renta, Ralph Lauren, Roland Mouret, Moncler, Hugo Boss, Prada, Lanvin, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Revlon, NARS, and Hyatt Hotel Group.
Jordan Rein
Art Director & Head Of Design
Jordan Rein is a Creative/Design Director with nearly 20 years of experience working both agency-side and client-side with some of the best to ever do it. He's worked with world-class ad agencies, media companies, and tech brands like TBWA\Chiat\Day, Vice Media, Condé Nast, Peloton, Amazon, and others. Goodnews is thrilled to have Jordan join its creative leadership team and looking forward to bringing his unique perspective to complex visual and creative problems as the company takes on this exciting shared journey. When he's not creating culture he spends his time gardening and fly fishing at his home in the Catskills.
BRUNO TORé
Production Services Lead
Bruno Toré, a passionate cinephile, and a versatile filmmaker with over 20 years of industry craft experience, directing, producing, and editorial. Bruno's passion for storytelling led him to become one of the best post production experts, honing the power of the editorial composition and process. Prior to joining the Goodnews Team, Bruno worked for major publishers such as Showtime(“The Chi”), HBO, Vice Media, Pulse Films, Condé Nast(VOGUE, BON APP, VANITY FAIR), and MTV as well as top tier brands (Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, SMIRNOFF, Absolut, Google, Samsung etc..).
A member of the Motion Pictures Editors Guild, Bruno Toré remains committed to delivering exceptional work and contributing his expertise to the ever-evolving world of film and television.
When not immersed in the editing room, Bruno can be found pursuing his passion for mountain biking or embarking on kayak expeditions. These outdoor adventures help fuel his creativity.
COLLEEN COUGHLIN
Creative Operations Lead
With over 15 years of operational experience in building high-performing systems and driving operational excellence, Colleen brings her ability to streamline processes, optimize workflows, and implement strategic solutions to the Goodnews Creative team. Her experience in the tech, optics, publishing, pet care, and DEI sectors cemented her unwavering belief in the value of team collaboration and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment leveraging individual strengths to achieve collective success. Having a previous life in marketing and branding, Colleen understands the power of narratives in conveying messages and connecting with audiences on a deeper level and is excited to be working with a positive content solutions studio that uses GOOD storytelling to make an impact.
In Memoriam
MATT SCHOEN
Where to start? Matt created GOODNEWS personality and voice in more than one way. Matt was a humble genius; his kindness, smile, and generally calm and composed demeanor were always ready to help, support, or find a solution to whatever you brought to his attention. IT is, therefore, not surprising the VICE Brand look and feel came from his beautiful, creative brain. Without Matt, VICE would not have been VICE; in the same way, GOODNEWS would not be GOODNEWS. He breathed life, original perspective, and inspired thinking into every brand and project he touched, or the countless amount of people who had the privilege to cross his path, hang or work with him for a minute, a day, or years on end. Matt left us way too early with so much more to contribute, but his creative legacy stands and will forever impact the countless humans he mentored and managed in Art and Design. To honor him and his worldview, GOODNEWS will dedicate part of its profits to Cancer Research + Patient Support and the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts Foundation.
Chief Design Officer Emeritus
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