Connelly Partners, an independent global agency with 150 employees across Boston, Dublin and Vancouver, is launching Connelly Partners West (CP West), its new West Coast office with a startup mentality.

The new office is led by Nadine Cole, Managing Director of CP West & President of VRX Studios, who has deep experience in the Canadian marketing landscape. Prior to this, she spent over 15 years at Cosette, well-known for its award-winning work with the likes of McDonald’s, Curling Canada, and Jetlines. Nadine served as the SVP and General Manager of Cossette for Western Canada and the USA for nearly 13 years and had stints at DDB Canada and Rethink Canada.

CP West kicks off with clients CloudCare, Chiwis, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA and more. It recently launched new and emotional work for CloudCare, showcasing the power of AI for the over 55 million people who suffer from dementia. Watch the powerful spot here.

Nadine took the helm of VRX Studios, a Connelly Partners company, in 2022 and has helped transform the business, evolving from a hotel-focussed content agency to one that now creates content for tourism, sports, golf resorts, architects, art installations and much more.

ZOO Digital, a Dublin-based, digitally-driven creative agency is expanding into North America. The company which was acquired by Connelly Partners in 2022 will now serve as their digital offering globally. 

Connelly Partners is an independent global agency with 150 employees across Boston, Dublin and Vancouver. The objective of the expansion is to drive the agency’s digital growth in North America –  fostering integration, and ensuring clients can leverage ZOO’s centre of digital excellence and team of digital creatives, marketing strategists and creative technologists, advancing Connelly Partners’ sustained growth. This news is a departure from the usual trend of US brands entering the Irish market – and sees an Irish digital agency heading over the Atlantic with their expertise. 

The two companies have been working together over the past two years to solidify their collective digital offering within the agency and bring clients enhanced digital expertise. Together, they have successfully landed new business, launched work and campaigns for clients including The V Foundation for Cancer Research, the iconic U.S. brand of Gorton’s Seafood; and science of reading-based tutoring Ignite Reading.

North American businesses will benefit from ZOO Digital’s extensive experience working with global brands including Burger King and Hansard Global and key Irish brands including Electric Ireland, Tirlán’s MyMilkMan.ie, the National Lottery and The Abbey Theatre. In addition, the agency is already working with some key brands looking to the US market such as the O’Callaghan Collection.

ZOO Digital will maintain its name and work as an integrated part of the Connelly Partners ecosystem. Its founders, Managing Director, Colin Hetherington, Creative Director, Chris Preston, and Technical Director, Martin Byrne, will provide clients with digital strategic direction and drive integration while leading the team in Dublin. 

Colin Hetherington, Managing Director, ZOO Digital added: “With a decade and a half of experience shaping the digital marketing landscape in Ireland, we’re excited to introduce ZOO Digital to North America. Our human-centered approach to digital has set us apart and it is now available to clients in this dynamic market. We are already gaining momentum with a number of new contract wins and we’re looking forward to making a significant impact on the digital landscape in North America.”

Chief Digital Officer of Connelly Partners, Scott Savitt, based in Boston, said, “Building from the success of Connelly Partners and ZOO Digital’s partnership over the past two years, we’re focusing on growth in North America. The complexity of marketing in today’s world requires agencies to provide end-to-end solutions. That’s what the convergence of ZOO Digital and Connelly Partners is about. We excel in data-driven digital marketing across all channels, using sophisticated customer research and analytics to inform all our strategies.” 

Managing Director of Connelly Partners Dublin, Vaunnie McDermott added, “Connelly Partners have made strategic acquisitions, invested in new verticals and leadership, filled gaps within our offering, reinvented employee experience and converged skill sets for a stronger Connelly Partners. It’s exciting to see our ZOO Digital colleagues adding to this suite of services that our agency provides.” 

As CP enters its 25th year in business, it’s positioned as an independent global agency with 150 employees across three locations in Boston, Dublin & Vancouver. The agency has built a culture where employees globally, from all offices, come together to create best-in-class work. Clients get a global perspective, local market expertise, vertical depth and category know-how. And they get it from teams and resources across the network, no matter what ‘door’ they come in.

Connelly Partners, an independent global agency with 150 employees across Boston, Dublin and Vancouver, is strengthening its position as a global digital leader. ZOO Digital – a digitally-driven creative agency that CP acquired in 2022 in Dublin, Ireland – will be expanding into North America in Q4 – and will serve as CP’s Digital offering globally. Senior Partner, Scott Savitt will assume the role of Chief Digital Officer at CP and will lead the formal introduction of ZOO in North America. 

CP and ZOO have been working together for the past two years to solidify their collective digital offering within the agency, bringing clients enhanced digital expertise and cost efficiencies. Together, they have successfully landed new business, launched work and campaigns for clients including The V Foundation for Cancer Research, founded by ESPN and legendary coach Jim Valvano; heritage brand and American staple Gorton’s Seafood; The Public Health Institute to reduce the spread of COVID-19; science of reading-based tutoring Ignite Reading; and more.  

ZOO also brings its impressive roster of clients including global brands such as Burger King and Hansard Global, and key Irish brands including Electric Ireland, Tirlán’s MyMilkMan.ie, the National Lottery and The Abbey Theatre.

“Building from the success of CP and ZOO Digital’s partnership over the past two years, we’re focusing on growth in North America,” said Savitt. “The complexity of marketing in today’s world requires agencies to provide end-to-end solutions. That’s what the convergence of ZOO Digital and CP is about. We excel in data-driven digital marketing across all channels using sophisticated customer research and analytics to inform all our strategies.” 

Clients will benefit from a model that can scale up/down based on needs and 24 hours of coverage across time zones. They’ll have access to a team of digital specialists providing comprehensive solutions across Strategy, UX & UI, Digital Campaign Creative, SEO, PPC, Paid Media, Social Media, Data & Analytics. U.S. clients will also benefit from cost efficiencies with the agency’s digital center of excellence in Dublin, and quality control at its highest within the full-service agency. 

In his role as CDO, Savitt will oversee and drive the agency’s digital growth – including ZOO in North America –  fostering integration, and ensuring clients can leverage ZOO’s team of digital creatives, marketing strategists and creative technologists. He’ll also support synergies across departments and disciplines, advancing CP towards sustained growth.

ZOO Digital will maintain its name and work as an integrated part of the CP ecosystem. Its founders, Colin Hetherington (Managing Director), Chris Preston (Creative Director), and Martin Byrne (Technical Director), will provide clients with digital strategic direction and drive integration while leading the team in Dublin. 

All executives will report to Steve Connelly

Colin Hetherington, Managing Director, ZOO Digital added: “With a decade and a half of experience shaping the digital marketing landscape in Ireland, we’re excited to introduce ZOO to North America. Our Human Centered approach to digital has set us apart and it is now available to clients in this dynamic market. We’re already gaining momentum with a number of new contract wins and we’re looking forward to making a significant impact on the digital landscape in North America.”

As CP enters its 25th year in business, it’s positioned as an independent global agency with 150 employees across three locations in Boston, Dublin & Vancouver. Clients get a global perspective, local market expertise, vertical depth and category know-how. And they get it from teams and resources across the network, no matter what “door” they come in.

As the advertising industry continues to be riddled with mergers, layoffs and questions about returning to the office, Connelly Partners is looking to grow into a more global independent agency by expanding its offices and offerings.

The agency, which opened its first office in Boston in the late 1990s, is planning on launching its first West Coast office. Nadine Cole will take on the role of managing director of the new office while retaining her role as president of VRX Studios, a content creation studio that the agency acquired in 2021. VRX will also be an offering under CP West.

Along with the new office, Connelly is also planning to expand ZOO Digital, the Dublin-based digital agency that it acquired in 2022, into the U.S. later this year. The agency will act as CP’s digital offering. As a result, Scott Savitt, a senior partner at the agency, is being promoted to chief digital officer, after previously serving as director of digital.

Connelly is also formally announcing the launch of CP Education, an offering dedicated to servicing education clients. Gene Begin, previously the chief marketing officer of Wheaton College, is leading the practice as managing director.

Read the full article here.

Social media and influencer marketing has become a thriving practice in the advertising industry, with many clients doubling down on spending in this area. Social media is a direct line to consumers, with an estimated 4.9 billion users globally. Steve Connelly recently spoke with AdAge, sharing his thoughts on the creator economy and why it is vital for marketers to leverage social and influencers for their clients. 

Read more here.  

Learn more about Connelly Partners Influencer Marketing. 

Thanks to our friends from Soccer Unity Project, Connelly Partners has been highlighted in the Boston Business Journal’s “Good News Tuesday” segment. The feature recognizes good deeds that make communities stronger.

Soccer Unity Project reimagines the power of soccer to build community, connect people from diverse backgrounds, and promote equity in youth play. The program annually serves 1,200 youth players and 750 adult players across Greater Boston.

The relationship began with a donation of office space in 2020, which has allowed Soccer Unity Project to host skill-building training, end-of-season gatherings, and more. It ensures the organization has a consistent meeting location, building familiarity among constituents and removing the financial stressor of rental space, which can be difficult for nonprofits. CP has also been a charitable workplace neighbor by offering industry expertise and promotional assets.

This is just one example of how corporate and nonprofit partnerships can work together for the community.  

Learn more about the partnership here.

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Home delivery service, MyMilkman.ie, has launched a new campaign highlighting the benefits of having a range of fresh products delivered to your door, including milk, cheese, juice, yogurt and eggs.

Created by Zoo Digital, part of Connelly Partners, it follows on from MyMilkman.ie’s 2022 campaign “For less Ugh and More Ahhh.” It has heightened the drama of these everyday pain points, as each video was framed as a mini TV drama with episodes focused on relatable and humorous ways people run out of the essentials, whilst showcasing the wide variety of products MyMilkman has to offer.

The campaign photography has received international creative industry acknowledgment. Three still photos were recently selected by industry-renowned publication, Lürzer’s Archive and are set to be published in its next publication.

Learn more about the campaign here.

We’re excited to announce that our work for Boston Pride for the People has been shortlisted in the Communication Arts Typography Competition’s advertising category. 

The Competition celebrates the best use of typography as the primary visual element in design and advertising, as well as new typeface designs, calligraphy and hand lettering. Winners receive the Award of Excellence, one of the most coveted awards in the industry, and are published in the publication’s Typography Annual.

Check out the work here.

Read more about the competition.

This year, businesses and individuals alike have embraced artificial intelligence with unprecedented enthusiasm and adoption rates. Generative AI has become more accessible with the rise of programs like ChatGPT, leading to more widescale adoption. 

However, this has also brought forward the inherent tensions that come along with an increasingly AI-driven world. Questions have been raised about the need for regulation around AI in film and television, and similar concerns apply to the ad industry, for both the people doing the creative work and the brands they’re doing it for.

In this month’s Amp spotlight, AdAge polled industry leaders on how this technology can be regulated as we move into an increasingly AI-driven advertising landscape. Chief Strategy Officer, Scott Madden, shares how humans play a pivotal role in evolving AI tools toward greater DE&I. 

Read the full story here.

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IAPI has released the shortlist for this year’s Effie Awards, which recognize marketing communications agencies, clients and brands that have demonstrated exceptional creativity, strategy, and effectiveness. This year’s awards have attracted a diverse range of submissions, and those shortlisted have shown their ability to leverage creative and strategic thinking to achieve impactful results for their clients.

Connelly Partners’ work for 123.ie has been shortlisted in the Finance and Insurance category. 

The winners will be announced on October 20, 2023. 

Check out the full list here.