Dentsu Creative Canada CSO appointed to new role
Rafik Belmesk (pictured) is the new EVP strategy for the Americas at Dentsu Creative. Previously, Belmesk held the role of chief strategy officer for Canada.
Before joining Dentsu Creative in the fall of 2022, Belmesk was VP and head of strategy (Montreal and Toronto) with Taxi, working on a client roster that included Fido, VW, Audi, Rogers, Chatr, Canada Life, Sanofi, Danone, WWF Canada and Bel Group (Boursin, Mini Babybel, Laughing Cow).
He has also worked on brands such as Coca-Cola, Vitaminwater, Subway, IKEA, Couche-Tard, OLG and Amnesty International.
His work has received recognition at Cannes, D&AD, One Show and Clios among others.
Belmesk was recently named one of nine Canadians set to judge at Cannes this year.
Xavier Blais’ a trail
Rethink executive creative director and partner, Xavier Blais (pictured), topped a list of Cannes Lions’ Top 10 creative directors.
Blais, who won a 2023 Gold Lion for “Heinz Ketchup Fraud” and another for Decathlon Canada’s “Ability Signs,” was selected for Cannes plaudits based on the number of winning and shortlisted entries at Cannes Lions 2024, as well as an independently verified points-based system.
Blais joined Rethink in 2015, helping build the Montreal operation from the ground up. Since then, he has helped create campaigns for global brands like Coors Light, IKEA, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Coca-Cola and Greenpeace.
Church+State adds group CD
Jon Lane has joined Church+State as group creative director.
Lane’s work has received recognition across multiple award categories including the Clios, The One Show, Communication Arts, Marketing Awards and the ADCC.
Prior to Church+State, he held senior creative leadership positions at Salt XC, Public, KBS+ and Innocean Worldwide.
He has worked on campaigns for the likes of Shoppers Drug Mart, City of Toronto, LCBO, National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) and African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario.
