STORY has signed Emmy-winning director John Komnenich, best known for people/dialogue spots, for exclusive national representation. Komnenich, who previously worked through his own Komnenich Films, has directed spots for Kellogg’s, Chevrolet, Budweiser, McDonald’s and other accounts. He will retain Komnenich Films for special projects while directing commercials exclusively through STORY.
Komnenich, who began his career as an editor, has built his reputation as a director around his ability to deliver believable performances and strong visuals. He has directed a lot of humor and has also done a substantial amount of kids advertising. While based in Chicago, he has worked for brands and agencies throughout the country, including a recent campaign for the Phoenix-based identity theft firm LifeLock. Other recent credits include spots for Allstate (Leo Burnett), the University of Missouri Tigers (conceived by former Leo Burnett creative Jack Smith), King’s Daughters Medical Center (Storandt Pann Margolis) and Tampax (Leo Burnett). Komnenich has been a finalist at Cannes, the Clios and The One Show, and is the recipient of Addy, Telly and Mobius awards. He won an Emmy Award for an image campaign for ABC 7 (Chicago) News.

Notably, Komnenich has recently begun to attract work outside tradional television advertising. He recently directly a series of 20 short webisodes promoting former ESPN announcer Dan Patrick’s syndicated radio broadcast through Chicago-based Content Factory. He also has plans to direct a documentary through Komnenich Films.

Komnenich said that in joining STORY he hopes to have more such opportunities and also to benefit from the company’s marketing strength. “While I’ve had a lot of success, it can only help to have STORY’s national sales team working in my behalf,” he observed.

Androw concurred calling Komnenich enormously talented. “John’s work has been getting better and better, and all he needs is consistant, national exposure to push him over the top,” Androw said. “Agencies love working with John because of the craft and imagination he brings to his work. Our reps are very excited about him and I think agencies are going to love his work.”