Kentucky-based Doe-Anderson, one of the nation’s oldest independent ad agencies, has formed a new leadership team. The team is comprised of employees who have made Doe-Anderson a success, as well as recent hires.
COO John Birnsteel has been promoted to CEO, taking the role held by chairman, president and CEO Todd Spencer, who becomes executive chairman. Chief creative officer Leyla Touma Dailey, who joined two years ago from Y&R, assumes the additional role of president alongside Lee Dorsey, formerly svp, director of innovation and now president/chief operating officer.
Rounding out Doe-Anderson’s leadership team are agency veteran and evp/controller Brittany Campisano, who becomes chief financial officer, and evp/managing director Matt Woehrmann, who joined from McCann in 2021 as chief client officer, a new position at the agency.
Birnsteel, who began his career at Doe-Anderson and later became a brand strategist and consultant at FutureBrand in London, returned to the agency 10 years ago. His appointment as CEO marks just the seventh time the title has been awarded in the agency’s 108 years.
“We believe leadership stability with the right leaders and the ability to carefully plan smooth successions have been key to our success,” said Spencer in a statement. “Now it’s time to write the next chapter with a blended team of leaders who have helped drive the agency’s success and new perspectives from those who have opted for a smaller, independent agency culture and the opportunities that offers.”
The agency also unveiled a new website and visual brand identity. It also won clients across categories ranging from athletics to pet food, power, plumbing and tourism in 2022, including social AOR for Roto-Rooter, creative AOR for EvoShield (a division of Wilson Sporting Goods), as well as Stewart Pet, Louisville Gas & Electric and Louisville Tourism. The agency continues its long-term relationship with Makers Mark, a brand it has helped promote for 50 years.
Doe-Anderson’s new leadership team is the culmination of a talent expansion that began in 2021 and has included new hires at all levels from the leadership team and beyond, in addition to internal moves. In Q4 last year, Erin Spalding, who formerly led digital integration and managed accounts across a number of categories, took on the role of svp, director of marketing, overseeing business development efforts.
“There is a reason why our clients stay with us and why employee tenure is eight years, three times the industry average. Our agency has a unique culture and is well poised for future growth,” said Birnsteel in a statement.