The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC) has named advertising industry veteran John Noble to head its commercial production division as executive producer. Noble, who also becomes a partner in TPSC, brings broad experience in both agency and production company roles, including senior production posts with The Martin Agency, Element 79, Eyeball, and Optimus.

Noble arrives with a mandate to grow TPSC's commercial division both by building its directorial roster and expanding its relationships with advertising agencies nationwide. "We thought it was very important to bring on someone with experience on both the agency side and the production company side," said TPSC CEO Kevin Matusow. "John shares our vision for how to run a successful production company. He knows how to work with advertising agencies; he is also director friendly and will work hard to support our filmmakers."

"The unique opportunity to become a partner and to head the commercial division of a company of national scope is an honor and a tremendous opportunity," said Noble, who currently is on the board of the Midwest AICP and council member of the Midwest Independent Film Festival. "I'm excited and extremely focused on taking TPSC to the next level, to reach its full potential as a competitive national player."

One of Noble's immediate tasks is to grow the company's roster of directors and Mike Chaves and Andrews Jenkins have already been added. Chaves, formerly with Backyard Productions, has directed commercials and branded content for Toshiba, NASCAR, 7-Eleven, Ford, McDonald's, Microsoft, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kellogg's, SeaDoo and Zippo.

Jenkins, most recently represented by Go Film, began his career as a copywriter for the in-house advertising department of Adidas. His directorial credits include work for Adidas, Nike, Saturn, TaylorMade, Budweiser, Mercedes, Gatorade and BMW. Jenkins also directed the feature How to Rob a Bank (And 10 Tips to Actually Get Away with It) starring Nick Stahl, Erika Christensen and Gavin Rossdale, and distributed by IFC Films. Work by Chaves, Jenkins and other directors on the company's staff can be viewed at www.travelingpictureshow.tv.

Noble began his agency career with DDB and also worked at McCann Erickson, Chiat Day and BBDO. In 1995, he joined the Martin Agency and three years later was named director of broadcast production. He later joined Chicago agency Element 79 as head of production and created the award winning and much lauded E79 film festival.

"I know firsthand what agencies go through to sell an idea, the hoops they jump through and the hard work they must invest in their projects before bringing their ideas to us," he said. "I use that experience to make their productions smarter, less stressful, and ultimately more successful."