Phelps, an integrated marketing communications agency, has tapped Tony Stern, Creative Director and Writer on global campaigns for Apple, Smirnoff and Google, among others, as its new Chief Creative Officer. Stern succeeds Howie Cohen, who is retiring after a career that spanned five decades, the last two of them with Phelps where he led defining campaigns for such brands as Petco, Tahiti Tourisme and City of Hope.
“The combination of new technologies and emerging media platforms gives even the smallest advertisers an opportunity to create impactful campaigns,” said Stern, in a statement. “At Phelps everyone is in the room from the beginning, attacking a business problem from all sides together and searching new ways for the right ideas to live. That’s what drew me in, and I think it’s why Phelps has so many uncommonly longstanding client relationships.”
Stern has helped build many of the world’s largest brands – including Adobe, Electronic Arts, Google, Hyundai and Smirnoff – for several of its most renowned creative agencies, including David & Goliath, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, and J. Walter Thompson. He has worked inside major advertisers, creating thoughtful advertising and content for such launches as the iPad Air and the Google.org global initiative. Most recently, he has played creative consultant to advertisers, agencies and tech startups, building a broad perspective on new opportunities in the creative space.
“Tony matches the heartbeat and personality of Phelps,” said Cohen. “He understands how advertising, public relations and social media in all their forms actually work in the world, and he’s comfortable working with all of the specialists to make them work synergistically. His work with Smirnoff, as an example, was a knockout because it got people around the world sharing their experiences. That’s in line with Phelps, where we put everyone together on work from the beginning, because the linear approach to communications can’t keep pace with today’s world.”
