ALEX KRAWITZ TO ASSUME TOP LEDERSHIP ROLE AT FIRSTBORN AS DAN LACIVITA LEAVES THE INDUSTRY TO START A NEW VENTURE
By thelaegotist / /
Managing director assumes the top leadership role for groundbreaking digital design and innovation shop.
After more than 15 years with groundbreaking digital design and innovation shop, Firstborn, the last four as Chief Executive Officer, Dan LaCivita (pictured above) has announced he is leaving the advertising industry to start a new venture in the tech space. His departure makes way for a new generation of leadership atop the company, with Alex Krawitz, currently SVP, Managing Director, taking over the shop as its President.
Krawitz (pictured above) has been with Firstborn since 2011, originally joining as executive producer for the agency’s content studio, which he successfully transformed into a market leader in emerging tech and XR content production. Since taking on the managing director role last year, Krawitz has been focused on the agency’s business growth, helping to secure and manage new clients like Royal Caribbean, Foot Locker, and Facebook.
Firstborn’s continued influence in the marketplace has been recognized by the mainstream and industry alike. The shop was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2019 for its work in AR/VR, marking its second appearance on the coveted list; landed on Crain’s Best Places to Work in NYC four times; and was named among Chief Marketer’s Top Agencies of 2018 and 2019. Firstborn has also received recent acclaim for its innovative work on brands like Jägermeister, HBO, and Chevron, in addition to its RBG Voter’s Registration Initiative and the viral launch of Adidas’s NMD shoe line.
LaCivita has been with Firstborn since 2003, first joining as a flash developer and working his way up to President in 2010, just prior to the shop’s acquisition by Dentsu. He was named CEO in 2015, and along with his executive team, continued to solidify Firstborn as one of the premier digital design and innovation companies in the industry while curating a vibrant culture of top talent from over 14 countries across the globe.
Rounding out Krawitz’s executive team are Chief Creative Officer Dave Snyder, who spent seven years driving the creative vision of Firstborn before taking over as CCO in 2018; Gabe Garner, who will continue in his role as SVP, Business Planning, leading new business strategy and growth for the shop; and Emily Khalil, Firstborn’s VP of Production. In addition, Eric Decker will continue to oversee the tech discipline at Firstborn as VP of Technology, while Ana Breton remains focused on the shop’s client roster in her role as VP of Client Services.
LaCivita officially departs the agency May 10.
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