86 the onions hires fresh blood

Brand communications agency 86 the onions received a makeover this month after founder/creative director Chad Rea went on a post-Christmas shopping frenzy, bringing home new blood in the form of Hunter Fine, Steve Porcaro, Ely Kim, and Charlie Hilton. None are sure how they ended up at the Venice-based agency but one source believes the recruitment may have been alcohol-induced. (more inside)

THE ART DIRECTOR WITH DARK SIDE: From BBDO/New York, Fine relocated to Los Angeles in an effort to decrease his paleness. He full-timed it at Cliff Freeman and freelanced it at BBH, Strawberry Frog, and Publicis/Seattle. His work has also appeared in Jest Magazine, CMYK magazine, and Cannes. 86 the onions allegedly hired Fine because their MP3 music library lacked Death Metal. Fine was happy to oblige.

THE COUCH-SURFING WRITER: Also a NYC transferee, Porcaro attended the Miami Ad School, later to do work for Mercury Advertising, Grey, Leo Burnett and Strawberry Frog. His work has been honored by the One Show, Clio, Lurzer's International Archive, Cannes, and his mom's refrigerator. Porcaro only agreed to join 86 after learning the agency kept a designer couch in its library. 86 only agreed to hire Porcaro because he owned silk-screening equipment and an HD-DV camera. A fair trade, it seems.

THE SELF-PROCLAIMED DESIGN GENIUS: A lover of all things furry, Kim comes to 86 the onions from Art Center College of Design. (There's actually a foot-bridge connecting the school to the agency.) Before being lured to 86, Kim designed for Landor Associates, Bird Design, Studio #1, and Design Bridge in London. The agency couldn't help but hire the guy because he promised to bake them kitten-shaped cookies every Friday.

THE SURFER CHICK: A Los Angeles native, Hilton brings to 86 much more than her wetsuit (which is currently hanging in the agency's shower). Brought on to manage office relations and internal brands, the new 86er has a history that includes writing for the Honolulu Weekly and co-founding a hip café/coin-laundry shop in West L.A. called The Rumor Mill. She's now spreading rumors for the agency but refused to do any of the staff's laundry.