Client
{{client}}
Campaign
{{title}}
title
item's title
VCU Brandcenter Names John B. Adams Jr. to Head Board of Directors: Adams Succeeds Mike Hughes as Chairman after 20 Years of Leadership
Cassie Williams Jones
University Public Affairs
(804) 828-7028
cwjones@vcu.edu
5/13/2013
The Virginia Commonwealth University Brandcenter announced today that John Adams, 40-year advertising veteran and chairman of The Martin Agency, has taken on the role of chairman of the VCU Brandcenter’s Board of Directors. Adams succeeds his lifelong business partner and the president of The Martin Agency, Mike Hughes, in this role after his 20 years of leadership at the Brandcenter.
Together Adams, the Brandcenter board, faculty and the school’s director, Helayne Spivak, will provide a plan to take the school to the next level in providing top talent for agencies, clients and brands.
“This was a very important role for us to fill,” said Spivak, named director of the Brandcenter in August 2012. “As I’m still relatively new to my position, it was important to me to find someone who, like Mike, was here at the Brandcenter’s inception. John was my first choice for this role and a unanimous favorite of our board for his ability to bring the board continuity and a great vision for the Brandcenter’s future.”
In his time as an executive leader at Martin, Adams was at the helm of the agency’s most robust growth period, winning clients including GEICO, Walmart, Pizza Hut and Discover Card, among others. Adams and Hughes were featured on the cover of Adweek in 2010 when The Martin Agency was named U.S. Agency of the Year.
“I’m thrilled about being able to work with such a superb graduate school, such a distinguished board and such a brilliant director in Helayne Spivak,” said Adams. “Both the past and the potential of the Brandcenter are extraordinary.”
Hughes has taken on a new role as chairman emeritus with the Brandcenter’s Advisory Board, joining the ranks of fellow industry legends Lee Clow, Jeff Goodby, John Hegarty, Michael Roth and Dan Wieden.
“The Brandcenter has never been shy about its ambition to provide the best education in the rapidly changing world of advertising,” Hughes said. “I’m especially proud of my part in helping to bring Helayne and John to these positions. I can’t imagine two better people to lead the changes and advances ahead. The students, faculty and the industry should all feel very good about this. My 34-year partnership with John and my 20-year relationship with the Brandcenter have been two of the highlights of my career. I envy their opportunity to help define the future of this business and the future of advertising and branding education.”
The Brandcenter Board of Directors, in addition to Adams and Spivak, includes Allison Arden, vice president and publisher, Advertising Age; Brian Collins, chairman and chief creative officer, COLLINS; Earl Cox, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, The Martin Agency; Susan Credle, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett USA; David Droga, founder and creative chairman, Droga5; Augusta Duffey, executive creative director, Gannett; Bob Greenberg, chairman, chief executive officer and global chief commercial officer, R/GA; Diane Jackson, executive vice president and director of integrated production, DDB Chicago; Louis Jones, chief executive officer, Maxus, North America; Jim Joseph, president, North America, Cohn & Wolfe Headquarters; Jon Kamen, chairman and chief executive officer, @Radical Media; Gareth Kay, chief strategy officer and associate partner, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners; Dave Knox, chief marketing officer, Rockfish Interactive; Paul Lavoie, chairman and co-founder, Taxi; Vicki Lins, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Clear Channel Outdoor; Joseph McCarthy, former chief executive officer, Publicis New York; Jonathan Mildenhall, vice president of global advertising strategy and content excellence, The Coca-Cola Company; Matt Miller, president and chief executive officer, Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP); Ty Montague, co-chief executive officer, Co Collective; Kevin Proudfoot, co-executive creative director, Google Creative Lab; Dick Robertson, former executive, Warner Bros.; Matthew J. Scheckner, president and chief executive officer, Stillwell Partners, and executive director, Advertising Week; Jerry Shereshewsky, chief grown-up, Grown Up Marketing; Jeff Steinhour, president/managing partner, Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Alain Sylvain, founder and chief executive officer, Sylvain Labs; Elizabeth Talerman, chief executive officer, Nucleus; and Rick Webb, consultant and mentor and venture partner.
Clouds Over Cuba, an interactive multimedia documentary we created for the JFK Presidential Library and Museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, picked up three pencils in the One Show, a gold for Mobile Applications/Sites/Public Service/Non-Profit a silver for User Experience Design/Information Architecture and another silver for Online Films & Video/Public Service/Non-Profit.
Clouds Over Cuba, an interactive multimedia documentary we created for the JFK Presidential Library and Museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, picked up two Webby Awards for 2013, one for Best Navigation/Structure and one for Cultural Institutions.
Adweek interviews Anne Marie Hite and Adam Stockton, the copywriter and artist behind the GEICO Gecko's new book You're Only Human.
GEICO Gecko’s First Book “You’re Only Human: A Guide to Life”
Richmond, Va., April 23, 2013 – Today, the GEICO Gecko, who has served as the company spokes-character for years, unveils his debut book: “You’re Only Human: A Guide to Life” (Workman; $11.95).
The 164-page paperback covers topics of interest to the Gecko, including tattoos, flossing, fedoras and haikus, to name a few.
“Workman approached our long-time advertising firm, The Martin Agency, about 18 months ago inquiring if the Gecko had ever thought about writing a book,” said Ted Ward, GEICO vice president of marketing. “Response to the Gecko has always been overwhelmingly positive, so we thought, ‘Why not?’ Clearly he has always had a lot of thoughts that we couldn’t squeeze into a 30-second commercial. That’s why this book idea seemed like a no-brainer.”
But writing all those pages didn’t come easy, which led to this insight– “If you get writer’s block, doodle. If you get doodler’s block, write.”
While it took teamwork, the Gecko gives special thanks to Steve Bassett, The Martin Agency creative director on the GEICO account.
"This book took me deep into the psyche of this beloved advertising icon,” said Bassett. “And it really made me think. Like when he asks, ‘Why don’t psychics ever win the lottery?’ You’ve got to admit, that’s a great question.”
Two of our latest spots for Colonial Williamsburg launched today: Folk Art and Boogie. Check them out and keep your eyes open for a new brand campaign launching in May.
Our new Let's Solve This campaign for ExxonMobil, which premiered during The Masters, was featured on Best Ads on TV and Ads of the World.
CNN lists the interactive documentary, Clouds Over Cuba, among "hidden gems" of this year's Webby Awards:
This expertly crafted interactive documentary on the
Cuban missile crisis from the John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library has archival video footage, documents, audio clips,
and fresh interviews. You can watch from beginning to
end or skip around on the timeline.
Our new spots for Cool Whip, Mistreated Cakes, tops Ace Metix's "10 Ads of the First Quarter" chart. Check out the spot.
We were one of few agencies to win more than one gold at this year's Art Director's Club Awards, picking up two golds and a bronze in the interactive category for Clouds Over Cuba, an interactive documentary created for the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.
Gold
Clouds Over Cuba
The Martin Agency/Tool
The JFK Presidential Library & Museum
Website
Clouds Over Cuba
The Martin Agency/Tool
The JFK Presidential Library & Museum
Craft | Content/Copywriting
Bronze
Clouds Over Cuba
The Martin Agency
The JFK Presidential Library & Museum
Craft | Art Direction
GEICO's latest spot in the Happier Than campaign, Baking Convention, was featured on Fast Company, Creativity, Adweek and Best Ads on TV.
The Martin Agency Names Janet White New Chief Financial Officer
CFO Rene Ferran to Retire After 21 Years of Service
RICHMOND, VA. March 27, 2013 – The Martin Agency announced today that Janet White, age 47, has been promoted to chief financial officer, effective July 1. Janet, a 21-year agency veteran, will be assuming this role from Rene Ferran who has served as the agency’s CFO since 1992.
In her new role as CFO, Janet will partner with the executive committee to manage the financial operations of the company. Janet will oversee all fiscal responsibilities for the agency and lead the accounting department. She will report to agency CEO, Matt Williams. Janet has served as the agency’s controller since 2006.
Rene Ferran, who has served as the company’s CFO for 21 years, will retire at the end of June.
“Strong financial management and performance are essential in building a robust, creative company. Janet will continue the kind of financial leadership that Rene has brought to this role for more than two decades,” said Williams. “She has earned the trust of employees throughout our organization and has close working relationships with The Interpublic Group, our parent company. Not only does she understand the nuances of how we make money today but she also has strong opinions about how compensation models in our industry need to evolve in the future.”
Janet started her career at an accounting firm in Florida and moved on to an accountant role at Advanced Data Systems in 1990. She joined The Martin Agency in 1992 as a staff accountant. She has an undergraduate degree in accounting from East Carolina University, a Master’s in Business Administration from The University of Richmond and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Opportunity International Taps The Martin Agency for Global Strategic and Brand Assignment
Richmond, VA, February 7, 2013 – Embarking on an ambitious campaign to broaden brand reach to a wider donor base, Opportunity International today announced it has tapped The Martin Agency to develop a global brand strategy and platform.
Opportunity serves over five million people in more than 20 developing countries with small business loans, insurance and financial and professional development training. Through the organization’s work with The Martin Agency, CEO Vicki Escarra plans to refine the 40-year-old brand with a more compelling and forward-looking articulation of the range of its work to eradicate poverty that will cultivate a long-term relationship with individual donors, corporate donors and strategic partners.
“The Martin Agency team is a gifted group of storybuilders who will mix that creativity with the sound science of audience targeting to help us grow our brand with a measured, precise strategy,” Escarra said. “Opportunity’s clients are trailblazers, each one of them leveraging the financial resources we provide to break out of poverty, then reinvest in their family and their community. The compelling stories of the intersection of Opportunity’s work and their triumph will inspire support and consequent growth of our organization.”
Opportunity Chief Marketing Officer Hope Schultz, who approached Martin to partner on the brand work, said the agency was selected for its creative leadership, strong track record in building iconic brands and its ability to work across all marketing platforms with equal expertise. “The Martin Agency has dedicated a stellar team to our work, whose passion is as palpable as its precision,” Schultz said.
“Our team, after visiting Opportunity International sites in Latin America and Africa, is inspired and excited by Opportunity’s work and mission. We are thrilled to have the chance to apply our craft to help them do even more,” said Nancy Hannon, SVP, Group Creative Director at The Martin Agency. “There are so many great causes out there that sometimes it’s hard to get a compelling message through. Opportunity International, however, is doing something that is fundamentally very different. They are not just helping people; they are showing people how to help themselves and giving them the tools and the training to create a sustainable way of life.”
The Martin Agency has already begun strategic work. The corporate identity, creative platform and website are slated to be complete this summer. Billings are undisclosed.
About The Martin Agency:
With offices in Richmond and New York, The Martin Agency offers unified advertising, strategic planning, media, direct response, interactive, data analytics, design, branded content and local lead generation. Clients include BFGoodrich, Discover, GEICO, Hanes, Kraft, Manpower, Mondelez International, Morgan Stanley, PING, Pizza Hut, the American Cancer Society and Walmart.
About Opportunity International:
Opportunity International provides access to savings, small business loans, insurance and training to over five million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in over 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbors and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit http://www.opportunity.org or join the conversation at http://facebook.com/opportunityintl and http://twitter.com/opportunityintl.
Creativity posts Pizza Hut's "Hut! Hut! Hut!" ad, encouraging football fans to create and submit their very own "hut" videos for a chance to appear in a Super Bowl commercial. Check out the ad.
Adweek features GEICO's latest ad with Maxwell the Pig, spoofing a classic skit on the show Portlandia. Check out the story and the ad.
USA Today coveres Pizza Hut's newest work, encouraging football fans to submit videos of their best “Hut. Hut. Hut.” call, which could become part of a commercial airing just before the Super Bowl. Calls can be uploaded to the Video Contest tab on the Pizza Hut Facebook fan page at Facebook.com/PizzaHut. Check out the story and the ad in USA Today.
For Immediate Release — January 3, 2013
STRATHAM, NH – Timberland PRO announced today that it has chosen The Martin Agency to develop cross-channel advertising for its outdoor industrial work boot: the Hyperion.
“After looking at several very fine agencies, we chose The Martin Agency because they demonstrated a deep understanding of our product and can bring the benefits of our work boots to life in a very strategic and creatively compelling way,” said Susan Emerick, Director of Marketing for Timberland PRO. “In our category, people have an intensely personal relationship with their boots. We believe The Martin Agency team will harness that emotion and use it to help us build a great story with our end consumer.”
The Martin Agency participated in a two-month internally run review for this assignment and finalists were undisclosed.
“Nothing’s more thrilling in our business than getting the chance to create work for a brand that has true innovations,” said Cliff Sorah, SVP/Group Creative Director at The Martin Agency. “These boots look, feel and perform differently than others in the category. But people who wear work boots are a loyal group and they don’t switch brands easily. So our goal will be to promote trial and to show how these boots can solve problems on the jobsite just like any other great tool.”
The Timberland PRO® Hyperion work boot is the newest addition to the brand’s collection of rugged and reliable work boot offerings. With a sleek athletic design that features a mesh and leather upper, the boot also offers Anti-Fatigue Technology for all-day standing tolerance, a Vibram® outsole for durability and traction, and a waterproof membrane to ensure dry feet, coupled with the comfort and safety industrial workers have come to expect from Timberland PRO. The boots are sold in Sears, Zappos and Amazon and independent work boot retailers across the country.
The Martin Agency will begin strategic and creative development right away and the first creative work is slated for fall of 2013. Billings are undisclosed and Timberland PRO’s incumbent agency for was Mullen. This is the second time The Martin Agency has been hired by Timberland, as it was previously the brand’s agency of record from 1997 to 2001.
Adweek covers the return of GEICO's Maxwell the Pig. Check out the story and watch the spot.
The Martin Agency announced today that Matt Williams, age 45, a 21-year agency veteran, has been promoted to chief executive officer and will begin those responsibilities on February 1, 2013. Matt will be assuming this role from John Adams, who has served as chairman and CEO since 1995. Adams will continue in his role as chairman.
In his new role as CEO, Matt Williams will lead the development and execution of the company’s business strategy and oversee, through the chief financial officer, the financial operations of the company. Additionally, Matt will oversee account management, business development, corporate communications, the company’s innovation initiatives and the relationship with Martin’s parent company, The Interpublic Group.
John Adams will continue to lead the agency’s executive committee as Chairman and will maintain several key client relationships while remaining active in select business development opportunities.
Matt most recently served as the agency’s general manager, a role he was promoted to in July of 2011.
Matt Williams joined The Martin Agency in 1991 as an account executive. He moved to the strategic planning department in 1995 and was named partner in 2005.
“Leading a creative company like The Martin Agency requires a specific combination of skill, talent, intuition and experience that can be hard to find in one person. Matt Williams is that person,” said Adams. “His career progression uniquely qualifies him for this role. As a long-time agency leader, Matt simply has our culture in his DNA. As a former planner, Matt is instinctively strategic and his leadership style is both thoughtful and decisive. I’ve worked at The Martin Agency for 39 years and I can say with full confidence that Matt will be terrific as our new CEO and I look forward to working with him to take our company to even greater heights.”
Since joining the agency, Matt has led strategic development for accounts as diverse as UPS and GEICO. He has led global strategy development for UPS, Saab Cars and Credit Suisse, working with agencies in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and the U.S., and has managed strategy on Effie-winning campaigns for UPS, Signet Bank, Bank One and GEICO. Matt has received Account Planning awards from the American Association of Advertising Agencies for both Saab and UPS.
Matt began his career in advertising at Ketchum Advertising in Philadelphia. He holds a degree in marketing from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Matt is a contributing author to Kellogg on Branding (John Wiley & Sons, 2005). He has been a guest on NPR and Bloomberg News and a speaker at the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the American Marketing Association. He has consulted on communications strategy with the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense and has served as a judge for the Effie Awards, Green Effie and the U.S. Account Planning Awards.
Serving with Matt on the Executive Committee are John Adams, Chairman; Mike Hughes, President; Joe Alexander, CCO; Beth Rilee-Kelley, COO; and Earl Cox, Chief Strategy Officer.
"I'm excited and humbled to be named CEO of this remarkable company,” said Williams. “I look forward to building on the legacy of creativity and integrity John Adams, Mike Hughes and the people of The Martin Agency have created, and continuing our quest to make Martin one of the most innovative companies in the world.”
About The Martin Agency:
With offices in Richmond and New York, The Martin Agency offers unified advertising, strategic planning, media, direct response, interactive, data analytics, design, branded content and local lead generation. Clients include BFGoodrich, Discover, GEICO, Hanes, Kraft, Manpower, Mondelez International, Morgan Stanley, PING, Pizza Hut, the American Cancer Society and Walmart.
For more information, contact Theresa Dunn at Theresa.dunn@martinagency.com or 804-698-8314
Inspiration Room Features the new GEICO Gecko "Behind the Scenes" work. Check out the story.
