SAUSALITO, Calif., March 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent creative agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners (BSSP) announced today the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tracey Pattani. A boomerang employee, Pattani worked at BSSP as a Group Account Director earlier in her career. She returns now to oversee day-to-day operations and leadership of the agency, bringing over 20 years of experience with her. As CEO, she will work closely with agency founders and current co-chairs Greg Stern and John Butler.
The agency also welcomes Nicole Michels McDonagh as its newest Group Creative Director. She will partner with Group Creative Director Sinan Dagli to co-lead creative teams. This marks McDonagh’s second stint at BSSP as well, previously working within the creative department as a Senior Writer. Both women helped to shape the agency’s culture and creative output during their respective tenures, returning now at a pivotal time for BSSP as the agency looks to capitalize on recent growth and momentum, and further build out its integrated offering. Pattani and McDonagh will officially start on March 2.
“It’s wonderful to welcome Tracey and Nicole back to BSSP. They helped build BSSP and our culture originally and have since launched successful careers. We’re excited to have them return and help guide the continued evolution of the agency,” noted Greg Stern, BSSP Co-Chairman.
An accomplished industry veteran with deep roots in digital marketing and brand strategy, Pattani has worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands throughout her career, including Microsoft, IBM, Diageo and eBay. She rejoins BSSP from Digitas San Francisco where she has served as SVP, Head of Account Management since 2016, overseeing successful programs for Amway, Pandora and PlayStation, helping to grow Digitas’ business and improve overall effectiveness of the agency’s work. She also helped expand the agency’s offering, building out CRM, social and content services to better serve client needs.
A global business leader, she has built teams and operations that have created profitable, healthy businesses and led client programs across 84 countries. During her first stint at BSSP, Pattani helped to foster a deep partnership with Diageo Wines. Following that, she started her own marketing consultancy, then spent several years leading accounts like Levi’s and Ghirardelli for FCB Global before joining Digitas.
“I am thrilled to return to and lead BSSP. Throughout my career I’ve emphasized brave leadership, culture and creativity as the most important and irreplaceable components of our business. I’ve built my leadership style around this and have been rewarded with the privilege of different perspectives, thriving teams and terrific client partnerships that have driven exponential business value. BSSP is the perfect home for me, filled with these common values,” said Pattani. “I look forward to joining a talented and diverse team and taking BSSP to the next level.”
Michels McDonagh rejoins BSSP by way of Wunderman Thompson (formerly POSSIBLE) where she worked her way up through the creative department over the last eight years – serving as Group Creative Director most recently – touching brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Coca-Cola, Bacardi, Microsoft and ZICO Coconut Water. Prior to that, she enjoyed a freelance career that stretched from Seattle to Seoul with stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Over the course of her career, Michels McDonagh also had stints at Kirshenbaum, Bond & Partners, Cole & Weber and FCB Seattle. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, The One Show, Effies, D&AD, and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, among others. She will report to Pattani and Butler in her new role at BSSP.
“BSSP is part of my creative DNA. The opportunity to help shape the agency as it heads into a new chapter of creating breakthrough work and innovative experiences for clients is a dream come true. There are very few shops who have kept that independent fire in their belly and continue to do what’s right for their clients and their people with integrity and autonomy. BSSP is one of the best. I look forward to collaborating with the diverse and forward-thinking leadership team as well as welcoming new talent through our doors,” noted Michels McDonagh.
“Tracey and Nicole are returning home and we couldn’t be happier,” said John Butler, BSSP Co-Chairman. “When they were here during the early days of the company, they oversaw some terrific work. Then they went away, grew in their careers and evolved as marketers. Now, they’re back to make us smarter.”
About BSSP
BSSP (www.bssp.com) is an independent creative agency, based in a former warship factory in Sausalito, California helping clients solve tough business challenges with insightful thinking and content that cuts through the clutter. The agency is built around a simple ethos that drives everything they do: 'make things interesting.' BSSP works with brands and companies including Mitsubishi Motors, Blue Shield of California, FootJoy, Sovos Brands, City of Hope Cancer Centers, Traditional Medicinals, ESPN, Parallel and others. Adweek named BSSP Small Agency of the Decade. In 2018, BSSP was awarded Ad Age's Small Agency of the Year accolade.
CONTACT:
Christine Perez-O’Rourke
DiGennaro Communications
christine@digennaro-usa.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a8985a9-fbdb-49ba-ab16-626e84e8c0fc.