Catherine Kolodij, SVP of Strategy at Allen & Gerritsen (a&g) announced today that former Leo Burnett VP Neil Cleary has joined the agency as VP, Director, Audience Intelligence and Brand Planning Group. Cleary has spent over 15 years developing strategy for world class brands including BMW, Unilever, British Airways, AT&T, McDonald’s and Walmart.
Most recently, he held the position of VP, Planning Director at Leo Burnett in Chicago, overseeing brand and positioning development for Hallmark. Prior to Hallmark he spent three years developing brand and positioning for Samsung Electronics global and US business. In addition he worked on McDonald’s kids and tween initiatives, Raytheon’s Math Moves U initiative and ConAgra business. Highlights of Cleary’s career include the St. Louis-based Omnicom agency Rodgers Townsend and Grey Worldwide in Atlanta. Although he has spent time at major agencies throughout the US (in five states), his new position at Allen & Gerritsen has brought him back to his hometown of Boston.
“Neil is a fantastic addition to the Strategy team here at a&g. He brings tremendous Fortune 500 branding experience, a passion for team building, and a killer sense of humor; the combination of which yield insightful brand positioning and creative strategies for our clients,” said Kolodij.
Allen & Gerritsen has invested in senior talent in its Strategy, Creative, Analytics and Marketing areas to add fuel to the agency’s growth. Cleary will be charged with leading creative strategic thinking for the agency’s BtoB and CtoB clients spanning the areas of biotech and financial services, retail, casual dining and footwear. As part of the Strategy team, he will work across all areas of the agency to create innovative ideas that extend across paid, owned and earned media. He will also be a key member of the a&g new business team, as they continue to be selected for national pitch reviews, adding more brands to their growing client roster.
“The decision to join a&g came after I realized that this mid-size agency in Boston is already on top of what’s next in marketing,” said Cleary. “a&g’s long term strategy, structure and capabilities are way ahead of their competitors’ thinking. It’s a great place for me to be.”
About Allen & Gerritsen
Always focused on what’s next, Allen & Gerritsen (a&g) strategically combines technology, creativity, media and analytics to develop digital, experiential and traditional branding experiences. Ranked by Advertising Age as one of the Top 50 Independent advertising agencies in the US, a&g creates conversations and builds connections that contribute to the bottom line. Their roster of global, consumer and BtoB clients includes The Boston Celtics, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Bonefish Grill, Hannaford Supermarkets, MFS Investment Management, Ninety Nine Restaurants, WBUR, Partnership for a Drug Free America, Toy State, Waters Corporation and Zildjian.
