Theresa Howard is a former senior editor at BrandWeek, an MBA in marketing from Baruch College and most recently covered consumer marketing and advertising for USA Today. But her last day at the publication is Aug. 28, after which point she’ll be a copywriter for Crispin Porter + Bogusky, New York.
An agency representative confirmed the hire today, but could not inform as to which accounts she’ll work on noting only that the agency tends to have everyone work on everything employees service many accounts.
Howard was not immediately available for comment, but we were able to obtain an email she sent to sources and colleagues.
“Over the past nine years I have the wonderful opportunity to work with you — on a story or two — or more likely numerous stories. And I know sometimes I never got back to you! My apologies.
“Now it’s time to hang up my journalist’s job but not my journalist’s spirit as I embark on an exciting, new career opportunity as a copy writer with CP+B.”
Crispin is no stranger to hiring copywriters and other creative talent with backgrounds outside the advertising industry. But we doubt many others have covered the agency as much. As USA Today’s advertising reporter, Howard was charged with keeping up on the agency (among all others, of course). We did some checking to see if at any point she showed a pro-Crispin bent and wouldn’t you know, she’s been a hard-nosed, neutral journalist. Except once, and we can’t really call it a “bent”.
“[CP+B}, a perennial Cannes winner, had a hybrid mentality long before the recession made it cool.”
“Now more agencies operate the Crispin way.”
Here’s a list of stories Howard has written about/containing references to CP+B over the years.
— Philips interactive film, Obama campaign take top ad prizes
— Apple, Microsoft face off at Cannes; Ballmer is Media Person of the Year
— Fewer ads entered at Cannes Lions as fewer people attend
— Ad Track: Welches mean ‘Business’; Ikea’s inner voice
— Ford, VW ad dollars promote new big vehicles
I’m probably never going to be offered a job there. Ho hum.
Update: We just spoke with Howard, who says she applied to a job posting from Crispin, which apparently asked for a journalist. She answered the ad, and thought it was a good opportunity. Some time in September, Howard will learn more about what she’ll be doing.