Having a creative services director at THE DM GROUP is an exciting new step. Luckily Monique Martino has just the right shoes for that. Or for just about any other occasion, it turns out.

With experience in publishing, design and branding, Monique has worked in Melbourne and London for clients like GM Holden, the City of Melbourne, the Herald Sun, Melbourne Fringe Festival, the University of Melbourne, iSelect, the London Stock Exchange, the NHS, Rolls Royce, BMW, Barclays and RSPCA UK.

Somehow, amongst all this running around, Monique finds time for coffee, talking shoes, shopping, holidays in sunny places and detailed movie critiques a la David and Margaret.

With all that energy and organisational drive, she’ll have us toeing the line in no time.

Sometimes when creative people put their heads together, something extraordinary happens.

Just like studio manager Liliana Lettieri’s special birthday present for her nephew, Harri.

Harri had an unusual way of dealing with his grandfather passing away. So Lil decided to tell the story of Harri and his Pa in a children’s storybook, in celebration of the bond between the two of them.

Lil’s story moved many of us to tears. It also moved senior art director Craig Sneddon to do the illustrations.

The result is a beautiful story, with stunning illustrations and one very happy little boy.

Amazing, isn’t it?

Say hello to yet another new trademarkDM face, account director Jenni Mercer.

She’ll be working with our healthcare clients and we couldn’t have found someone better qualified for the job.

With more than eight years of advertising experience under her belt, Jenni’s worked on several big healthcare brands, including Lilly, Roche and Janssen-Cilag, on everything from ADHD to schizophrenia, so she’s well-equipped to deal with our creatives.

She also hit the million-dollar mark for billings in her first year as account director – a talent managing director John Kilgour is particularly pleased to add to THE DM GROUP.

No pressure, Jenni!

We’re only halfway through the 2010 World Cup and we’ve already seen Italy, France and England fall.

But the biggest upset of all is happening here at THE DM GROUP, where the men are getting their behinds kicked by the little Asian chick.

Top of our tipping league sits Nina Ee – 200 points ahead of the closest competition.

Nina’s ahead partly because of her extensive football knowledge. And partly because half the league don’t realise they need to tip for every round.

But it’s football and what matters at the final whistle is who wins, not how they do so.

For some reason THE DM GROUP staff seem to have trouble returning to work after their holidays.

Pauline Ahola was ‘stranded’ in Paris in April. And this week Kristin Tomuschat turned up a day later than expected after her flight was ‘delayed’.

Kristin’s spent two weeks travelling in Vietnam with her family from Germany and from her new tan, relaxed demeanour and amusing travel stories, we can understand why she might be reluctant to return to the daily grind.

We, on the other hand, are only too pleased to have German efficiency whipping things into shape again.

Welcome back Kristin!

It’s only been three days but we already like our new account director, Frank Franzese.

Firstly, Frank’s a designer-turned-suit. He switched roles because he was fed up of other people not selling his ideas well and decided he could do a better job. That’s the creatives won over.

Secondly, Frank’s worked across a diverse range of brands, including Telstra Super, ANZ and Merrill Lynch. That’s the account service box checked.

Lastly, Frank’s been making his own wine for five years and he’s particularly proud of his 2007 Heathcote Shiraz.

Bring in a bottle on Friday, Frank and you’ll have 21 new best friends.

Working with the YMCA we’ve come to realise just how much it does to help people of all backgrounds.

But like many community organisations, the Y needs help too.

Which is where YMCA Development Manager, Olivia Passmore, has taken a big step – one of about 10,000 to come.

That’s because Olivia has entered the Run Melbourne marathon to raise money for the YMCA Open Doors program.

Open Doors helps people doing it tough by subsidising 80% to 100% of the cost of YMCA health and wellness programs and services, like therapeutic camps for people with disabilities or aquatic education for kids from financially strapped families.

Olivia has a modest target – $500 – to run 10 long, long, long clicks.

(Believe us, looking at her, she ain’t no runner.)

But like us, you can help ease Olivia’s pain – and the financial pain of many Victorians – by making a donation.

Our Production Manager, David Findlay has returned from his four week hiatus in the Maldives and Bali.

It should have been no surprise to Dave that the crew had plans for his homecoming.

Whether it was covering every inch of his office with posters of handsome men or making up an imaginary new junior creative team that he would have to share his office with (some extra computers, fake personalities, and live jobs on the weekly WIP), there was always something to welcome him back.

The team worked into the night on Friday to make sure his office was nothing like how he had left it.

Multiple rolls of aluminium foil and a few human sized bags of packing peanuts were enough to create the most recent office prank.

We had to do something to get back at him for that speedo incident.

We missed ya Dave!

Meet finished artist Ross Goddard – the latest addition to THE DM GROUP.

With over 11 years experience in advertising and design under his belt, Ross has worked on a range of big brands, including award-winning campaigns for Suzuki and Jeep.

Not surprising, since he really likes cars. He’s also been working on a top secret calendar for the Victorian Aids Council.

But here’s the real reason we hired Ross. He was ranked one of Australia’s top five retouchers by Capture magazine. And we need someone who can do this.

It’s about time we had a touch of class around here.

Dave ‘Buttercup’ B may look sweet, but put a table tennis bat in his hand and all bets are off.

Freshly returned from holidays and a few friendly games at home, our Head of Art, Andy ‘Daffodil’ Harrison decided to challenge Dave to a lunchtime match up the road at the Sports Club.

The first clue that Andy was in trouble was when Dave turned up with his own bat in a carry case.

The next was the score: 15 games to 0 in Dave’s favour.

Never mind, Andy. Even Rocky didn’t win in the first movie, either.