Martin Agency has new CEO

Danny Robinson is taking over from Kristen Cavallo as CEO of The Martin Agency, parent Interpublic Group of Cos. announced Tuesday.

Robinson has been chief creative officer of the Richmond-based ad agency since 2020. Cavallo has headed Martin for the past six years, and IPG named her global CEO of MullenLowe Group 14 months ago. Under their leadership, 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 Danny Robinson its 2022 Chief Creative Officer of the Year. Cavallo will remain in her position as MullenLowe Group global CEO and will continue to be based in Richmond.

“Our leaders don’t operate on an island. And that includes our CEO,” Robinson said in a statement. “Martin has an executive committee that works as a team on every major decision facing the organization and I have been an integral part of the team for the last five years. … Kristen, the entire executive team and all our people and partners have set this agency up for what will be its best chapter yet.”

Robinson, the first Black executive to lead Martin, has overseen ad campaigns for notable clients like UPS, Old Navy and Geico, and recently oversaw smokeless fire pit maker Solo Stove’s campaign with celebrity rapper Snoop Dogg. In 2023, Martin won several new clients, including Papa Johns, Skrewball Whiskey and Miracle-Gro, according to a news release.

Robinson joined Martin in 2004 and has held several roles, including group creative director and chief client officer, a new role Cavallo created for him in May 2019. Prior to joining Martin, Robinson co-founded ad agency Vigilante, which was behind Oprah Winfrey’s famous 2004 car giveaway.

“Moving from CCO to CEO is uncommon, but it shouldn’t be,” Cavallo said in a statement. “Our industry has become increasingly focused on consolidation and efficiencies, and we need to return the conversation to creativity. … Danny has held roles across the agency in preparation for just this moment.”

Robinson sits on the board of Creative Ladder, a nonprofit founded by movie star Ryan Reynolds, and is a former board chair of local nonprofit Feed More. He is a graduate of Hampton University (then Hampton Institute) and Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University).

Jerry Hoak, executive creative director at Martin, will succeed Robinson as chief creative officer, Martin announced Thursday. Robinson will act as CEO/CCO during the transition. Hoak joined Martin in 2016 and led pitch teams that won DoorDash, Anheuser-Busch InBev, CarMax, Google and Papa Johns.

Editor’s note: Story updated Feb. 1.