Changing of Guard at Conn.’s Cronin

BOSTON One of New England’s longest-lived shops changes hands later this month when Bill Cronin turns over Cronin and Co. to CCO Steve Wolfberg and director of strategic planning Kim Manning.

Founded slightly more than 60 years ago by Bill Cronin’s father, the agency in Glastonbury, Conn., has weathered numerous changes in the communications landscape to emerge as one of the region’s larger and most vibrant independents.

Bill Cronin has been president since 1984, working with key partners John Riccio and Mike Wheeler. Cronin and Riccio step down at month’s end; Wheeler stays through the end of the year as an advisor.

Wolfberg becomes president while retaining the CCO designation. Manning becomes COO of the shop, which claims about $70 million in overall billings from clients such as Amica, CVS, Konica-Minolta, Liberty Bank and McDonald’s.

“We could not feel more confident in passing the reins to Steve and Kim,” Bill Cronin said. “Both have held leadership positions here for almost 20 years, and both are well-prepared to run this company.”

Added Wolfberg: “More than half of our accounts are national brands; our Connecticut-based accounts are market leaders. We used to be known as a local agency that did national-caliber work. Now we’re a national brand agency that happens to be located in a quaint Connecticut suburb. Everyone here is energized by what lies ahead of us.”