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Two Hampton Roads marketing agencies to merge
Norfolk-based WB Marketing‘s parent company has acquired majority interest in Virginia Beach-based marketing and communications firm Meridian Group and will merge the two into one agency, Meridian Group announced Tuesday. Mike Matacunas from Norfolk-based private investment firm Five Hill Capital — WB Marketing’s parent — acquired the majority interest from Meridian Group founder J[...]
$1.2B WillowTree purchase completed
Telus International Inc.’s $1.225 billion purchase of Charlottesville-based software company WillowTree Inc. has been completed, the Canadian tech company said Wednesday. The acquisition was announced in October 2022. The purchase included $210 million of assumed debt, of which $125 million was to be settled in Telus subordinate voting shares. Approximately $160 million will be reinvested [...]
Martin Agency names first chief revenue officer
The Martin Agency has named Tasha Dean its first chief revenue officer, the Richmond-based national advertising agency announced Wednesday. Dean, who has previously led integrated production at the agency, will be responsible for growing revenue, implementing strategies for organizational design, finding new marketing offerings, identifying the latest tech and products, and reviewing new opportuni[...]
Martin Agency CEO named global head of MullenLowe Group
Kristen Cavallo, CEO of Richmond-based ad firm The Martin Agency, has been promoted to global CEO of MullenLowe Group and will serve in both positions, Interpublic Group (IPG) announced Thursday. IPG is one of the “Big Four” advertising companies, having started in 1930 as McCann-Erickson. Today, it includes dozens of companies, including MullenLowe, Octagon and […]
Two Va. agencies make Adweek’s fastest growing U.S. agencies list
Two ad agencies that call Virginia home have landed on Adweek’s 2022 list of the fastest-growing U.S. ad agencies, the publication announced Monday. Richmond-based creative agency Dotted Line ranked third on the list of Adweek’s fastest-growing agencies in the Southeast, and No. 22 on the list of the nation’s 75 fastest-growing agencies. Charlottesville-based Willow Tree [&hellip[...]
Martin Agency’s Robinson wins Ad Age CCO of the year
Danny Robinson, The Martin Agency‘s chief creative officer, was named Ad Age’s chief creative officer of the year on Thursday, as the publication lauded him for having “revved up the agency’s creative output, turning out great ideas at a quicker pace across multiple categories and brands.” Among Richmond-based Martin’s clients are Geico, UPS, Old Navy, […[...]
For 2nd year in row, Martin Agency is Adweek U.S. agency of the year
Richmond advertising firm The Martin Agency has been named Adweek’s U.S. agency of the year for the second time in a row, the publication announced Sunday night. It is only the third agency to achieve consecutive wins, according to Adweek. Among the reasons for Martin’s 2021 win are its work for new accounts Terminix, Hasbro […]
Professional Services
RAND BLAZER PRESIDENT, APEX SYSTEMS LLC, FAIRFAX COUNTY Blazer has been with Apex Systems since 2007, after nearly 30 years with KPMG US LLC. The former U.S. Army captain has helped Apex, based in Glen Allen, grow into a firm with roughly 2,640 employees across the state. Apex and its parent company, ASGN Inc., together […]
Dollar Tree launches digital media network
Chesapeake-based Fortune 500 discount retailer Dollar Tree has launched a digital media arm that aims to connect advertisers with potential customers via its Family Dollar retail brand, it announced today. Dollar Tree says its new venture, the Chesapeake Media Group, will offer services that help companies place ads on Family Dollar’s website and mobile app […]
The Martin Agency wins Adweek’s U.S. agency of the year
Richmond-based advertising firm The Martin Agency was named Adweek’s 2020 U.S. agency of the year, the publication announced Monday. The firm won the Old Navy ad account in February, adding the clothing retailer to a roster of clients that includes GEICO, UPS, Ritz, Oreo and Buffalo Wild Wings. In 2020, Martin posted $22 million or […]
A reason to smile
Kathy Magee, co-founder and president of Operation Smile, will be featured on Lay’s potato chip bags as part of Frito-Lay’s Smile with Lay’s national campaign, the Virginia Beach-based nonprofit announced Wednesday. The snack food giant’s revived campaign features 30 smiles of “ordinary people”, including Magee, who is a former nurse and social worker. She start[...]
Professional Services
MAHFUZ AHMED CHAIRMAN AND CEO, DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS LLC (DISYS), MCLEAN After earning his bachelor’s degree in engineering from George Mason University, Ahmed worked with Northrop Grumman Corp. and Mobil Oil Corp. before founding information technology staffing and consulting services company DISYS in 1998. Today, as CEO and chairman of the board of directors, Ahmed […]
