L to R: Joe Phelps Welcomes Mike Jackson as New Phelps President.
Mike Jackson, a 30-year marketing and advertising executive, has been appointed to the new role of president of Phelps, the West Coast’s largest independent integrated marketing communications (IMC) agency, which experienced 30% growth last year.
Jackson is a former vice president of marketing and advertising for General Motors North America where he was responsible for a $3.3 billion marcom budget, the second largest marketing budget in the U.S. at the time, working with 40 different agencies. Prior to that, he served in senior level sales and marketing posts at Coors Brewing, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
Jackson will assist with strategic planning for existing clients, business development and expansion of the agency brand. Initial targets include the automotive, beverage, travel and other consumer product industries. Additionally, he will be working with Phelps Total Market, an MWBE multi-cultural marketing agency. Jackson is an industry speaker and educator, and will continue these activities on behalf of Phelps.
“A mutual friend gave me a copy of Joe’s book,” stated Jackson, “and I was blown away by his insights on fostering a culture of integration through an organizational design of self-directed, client-based teams. I’ve worked with more agencies than almost anyone else…I know what clients are looking for in this increasingly complex space, and I’ve had the opportunity to experience what works and what doesn’t. The Phelps model works.”
“We want to continue to be the standard by which all IMC agencies are measured,” added Joe Phelps, who will continue in his role of CEO. “Many marketing leaders have such great respect for Mike’s strategic thinking, and his understanding of our industry from the client’s point of view will have a strong influence on our associates and their work.”
Phelps, a pioneer in integrated marketing communications, is the only agency listed in both the top 20 advertising and PR agencies in Los Angeles. Joe Phelps is the longest running agency CEO in L.A., and is the author of Pyramids are Tombs, now a part of several university marketing curricula.
