# Andre Filip

> Andre Filip is the founder of ELA Advertising, established in 2004, and founder and CEO of SmartMagic, the creative company into which ELA began transitioning in March 2025. Based in the Los Angeles area, he trained at Seiniger Advertising and built a practice connecting entertainment storytelling with brand strategy, design and advertising.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at SmartMagic
- **Organizations:** SmartMagic, ELA Advertising, Seiniger Advertising, ContraBrand, Easterseals Southern California
- **Education:** University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- **Known for:** Built ELA around applying entertainment advertising methods to general-market brands., ELA collaborated with Sandisk’s internal team on its new brand identity, described by Sandisk in March 2025., Founded SmartMagic with Grant Barth, combining advertising, merchandising and design expertise.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Began his advertising career with an internship at Seiniger Advertising, mentored by Tony Seiniger; later worked as a creative director.
- **2004** — Founded ELA, short for Everything LA.
- **2009** — Started clothing label ContraBrand with T-shirts.
- **2018** — ELA’s Hollywood office renovation was completed in November; Filip helped select and plan the space.
- **2019** — ELA announced its Gensler-designed Irvine office in September.
- **2025** — Launched SmartMagic with Grant Barth as ELA began transitioning into the new company in March.

## Achievements

- Built ELA around applying entertainment advertising methods to general-market brands.
- ELA collaborated with Sandisk’s internal team on its new brand identity, described by Sandisk in March 2025.
- Founded SmartMagic with Grant Barth, combining advertising, merchandising and design expertise.

## Latest updates

- **2025-03** — SmartMagic launched with Filip as CEO and Grant Barth as president and chief strategy officer; ELA began transitioning into the new company.
- **2025-03** — Sandisk published its design account crediting ELA with collaboration on the new brand and quoting Filip.

## Links

- Website: https://about.me/andrefilip
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrefilip

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/andre-filip
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22