JUST THE FACTS: Age - 40; Hometown - Miracle Mile, California; Education - Fine Arts graduate from Calstate Fullerton and Art Center College of Design; Employ - with @radical.media for a year.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: An art school grad, Labbé launched a modest design firm after encountering "the ugliest business card I'd ever seen." That led to design directing stints at DGWB and Hal Riney, and, eventually, a plum art directing gig with Wieden + Kennedy, where he spent five years working alongside the likes of Gondry, Jonze and Budgen. He became VP/CD of Leo Burnett USA in 2002, and left a few years later to take up directing.

WHAT HE LOVES MOST ABOUT THE JOB: After spending years on the agency side, Labbé is relishing the director's chair, mostly because it allows him to focus squarely on execution. "I was never a good creative director," he laughs. "I don't like to sit in the meetings and travel all over and do that stuff. What I really like to do is execute and be part of creating the art - that's my passion. On this side, a discussion is always about the commercial or the video, not some other political agenda."

BEST WORK: A slapstick comedy spot for PowerBar in which random strangers attempt to tackle superstar NFL running back Tiki Barber ("Tiki"), and a quietly dramatic spec piece for Adidas in which a slumbering fitness nut jogs through a Los Angeles suburb ("Sleep Runner"). Equally comfortable with visual and comedic work, Labbé doesn't discriminate against genre. "I really just try to stay conceptual, focus on the idea and do the right execution for what's on the table," he says.

THE BEST DIRECTING ADVICE HE'S EVER RECEIVED: From Budgen: "Sometimes pictures say a hell of a lot more than words. Always find the soul of the individual." From Jonze: "The key to this game is building your crew; once you do, stick with them."

HIS OTHER PASSION IN LIFE: The television reality show Beauty and the Geek, because "it sums up this business and life in general."

AGE AIN'T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: Despite being a latecomer to the game, Labbé doesn't see his age as a problem. He lists "knowing how to talk to clients and how to sell something you want to change" among the many advantages of his experience. And if that doesn't sell you, he'll trot out another handy little factoid. "Budgen started his career when he was 43," he says. Amen.

@radical.media> http://www.radicalmedia.com