2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: DANNY ROBINSON

Danny Robinson joined The Martin Agency in 2004 as senior vice president and group creative director. He was promoted to chief client officer in 2018 and chief creative officer two years later. In 2024, he was named CEO, becoming the first Black executive to lead the advertising agency.

Martin was named industry publication Adweek’s Agency of the Year in 2020 and 2021, as well as Ad Age’s Agency of the Year in 2023. Ad Age named Robinson its 2022 Chief Creative Officer of the Year.

Robinson has overseen campaigns for clients like Geico, UPS and Old Navy. He oversaw the 2023 viral campaign for smokeless fire pit maker Solo Stove featuring marijuana connoisseur Snoop Dogg. This year, Martin generated headlines with a spot featuring the members of fictional geriatric rock band Spinal Tap and the band’s (fictional) rider, which ensures a supply of Aspercreme backstage.

Before joining Martin, Robinson co-founded ad agency Vigilante, best known for Oprah Winfrey’s 2004 car giveaway (“You get a car! And you get a car!”).

Robinson earned a degree in art education from the Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and an MBA from Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University). He sits on the boards of Creative Ladder, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit working to build an inclusive new generation of creative industry leaders; Donate Life America, a Richmond-based nonprofit committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation; and The One Club for Creativity, a nonprofit that supports the global creative community.