GSD&M Promotes Jay Russell and J.B. Raftus to EVP
~Agency leadership team has renewed focus on ideas that make a difference~
AUSTIN, TX – May 12, 2015 – GSD&M announced today the promotion of Jay Russell from SVP/Executive Creative Director to EVP/Chief Creative Officer and J.B. Raftus from SVP/Chief Marketing Officer to EVP/Chief Marketing Officer. In these roles, Russell and Raftus will continue to work alongside fellow GSD&M leaders CEO Duff Stewart and President Marianne Malina to enforce the agency’s edgy, but honest approach to purposed-based marketing and renewed focus on ideas that make a difference.
Jay Russell is a GSD&M boomerang; he returned to the agency in 2011 after helping launch the Windows phone during his brief tenure at Crispin, Porter & Bogusky/Boulder. Since returning to GSD&M, Jay has led creative efforts on some of the agency’s most winningest work, including the United States Air Force Collaboratory, which was awarded three Cannes Cyber Lions in 2014. As EVP/CCO, Jay will continue to push GSD&M’s creative department to come up with ideas that contribute to the agency’s momentum and provide solutions to clients’ business challenges.
“Jay has created an open and collaborative working environment, which has resulted in great success for the agency and the outcome of our work,” said Duff Stewart, CEO of GSD&M. He has the passion, drive and enthusiasm to get the right teams in place and take GSD&M’s creative department to new levels.”
With an impressive streak of new business wins under his belt, J.B. Raftus has been with GSD&M nearly 25 years, with the exception of a one-year stint at McKinney in 1999. His strategic smarts and strong leadership have helped launch many of GSD&M’s most successful relationships including Walgreens, John Deere, Popeyes, Zales, BMW and Goodyear. In 2014 alone, he led the agency to win multiple stellar accounts including Northwestern Mutual, Hampton Inn and Suites, Whole Foods Market, Chipotle and PetSmart.
“J.B. is a confident, consistent and passionate pitchman,” said Duff Stewart. “He is an amazing ambassador for our brand in the marketplace and he is an articulate, inspiring communicator. This promotion is a well-deserved recognition of his many contributions to GSD&M.”
About GSD&M
GSD&M is an advertising agency headquartered in Austin and focused on ideas that make a difference. With a restless culture and purpose as a guiding force, GSD&M builds brands with an integrated creative and media approach.
