O’Donnell comes to VIA after holding senior management positions with agencies including JWT, Young & Rubicam, Euro RSCG, and Lowe and Partners
Portland, Maine, March 17, 2007 – The VIA Group announced today that it has hired Dan O’Donnell as a group strategy director. With more than 20 years in the industry, he brings a wealth of experience from some of the largest agencies in the world. O’Donnell has served as executive vice president/global business director at JWT, senior vice president/account managing director at Young & Rubicam, senior vice president/management supervisor at Lowe and Partners, and account director at Euro RSCG/MVBMS. He has worked with some of the world’s most recognizable and respected brands, including Merrill Lynch, Citibank, Braun, Procter & Gamble, Domino’s Pizza, MCI, Coca-Cola, Prudential and the tourism boards of Bermuda and Ireland.
“Dan is a tremendous addition to VIA,” said John Coleman, CEO and founder of VIA. “He joins us at a critical time in our growth and development as a higher-profile player at the national level. Our clients and all of VIA’s associates will benefit from the unique and powerful skill set that Dan brings with him. Dan’s strong agency experience will be extremely valuable as VIA continues to grow and extend our client list. I am very pleased that we were able to lure him from New York City.”
O’Donnell will be responsible for managing VIA’s TD Banknorth business. He will also play a critical role in business development, working closely with Coleman. Advertising is in O’Donnell’s blood. His mother and father both worked at BBDO, his wife is a copywriter and his father-in-law and two sisters-in-law were award-winning art directors. Outside of his career, O’Donnell has been an active volunteer for years with organizations including Upward, Inc., The United Way and the Graham Windham Foundation. He takes the most pleasure in coaching both of his daughters in basketball and softball.
“I have been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime,” said O’Donnell. “To live in Portland, Maine, but continue to do the caliber of work that I enjoyed in New York City was irresistible. VIA provides a New York experience without the New York attitude. The agency is well positioned for rapid growth, and I am excited to be a part of VIA as it joins the ranks of the great agencies that have established themselves off Madison Avenue. Most importantly, to bring my family to Maine fulfills a longtime dream.”
The VIA Group
Founded in 1993, VIA is an agency with a long track record of helping companies grow by solving their toughest marketing, branding and advertising problems. The bigger the challenge the happier we are. Current clients include TD Banknorth, Analog Devices, HP Hood, Monster, Uno Chicago Grill, Cleveland Clinic, Dunkin’ Donuts, Silverstein Properties, Kick Start, Arrow International and CBS RADIO, who are served from offices in Portland, Maine; Boston; and New York City.
LOCAL NEWS NOTE: Dan O’Donnell is a resident of Yarmouth, Maine.
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