Laughlin Constable, the independent Chicago and Milwaukee agency that counts Master Lock, the ASPCA and Yuengling beer as clients, is celebrating 45 years in business and with it a passing of the torch—of sorts.
Jon Laughlin and Pat Laughlin, sons of agency founder Steve Laughlin, are taking the helm of the creative at the agency, having been named co-chief creative officers at Laughlin Constable.
Jon Laughlin joked that he has been working at the agency for 44 years, since he and his brother were born into the agency their father started, though the brothers have been working at the agency well over a decade.
“For 10 years, Jon and Pat have been part of our creative leadership team and, as a result, I have continually seen leaps forward in our creative output. Under their leadership, we will continue to push innovative and creative boundaries to meet the needs of our clients across CPG, retail, healthcare, insurance, B2B and other industries,” Mat Lignel, president and CEO of Laughlin Constable, said in a statement. “As we mark our 45th anniversary, the time is now to have Jon and Pat lead our creative team.”
Both Jon and Pat have been at the agency since 2005 and have been involved with multiple clients, Jon most recently leading the Yuengling brand and Pat on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism account.
“I have had the privilege of learning from some of the best creative directors in the business, starting with my dad and most recently with John Maxham. They showed me how important it is to nurture the big idea and always continue to craft the copy,” said Jon Laughlin in a statement.
“Creative has always been at the heart of Laughlin Constable, and I’m most looking forward to combining our creative firepower with our deep digital roots to create work that’s both emotionally resonant and business driving,” added Pat Laughlin in a statement.
Owner Steve Laughlin remains executive chairman of the agency’s advisory board. Maxham, who held the CCO position at Laughlin Constable for the last two years and helped mentor Jon and Pat Laughlin, is departing the agency to pursue a new opportunity. Maxham took over for Lisa Bennett, who signed on with the agency in 2018 and left for an opportunity in academia.