ab+c (Aloysius Butler & Clark), Wilmington, announced a leadership succession plan.
After heading the company for more than 45 years, John Hawkins, one of ab+c’s founders and the agency’s current president and CEO, will retire in January 2017.
His duties will be split between two long-time executives. Tom McGivney, currently a managing partner and chief creative officer, will be promoted to the position of CEO. Paul Pomeroy, currently a managing partner and head of agency marketing, will be promoted to president.
These changes become effective January 2017 in conjunction with Hawkins’s retirement. Also, effective immediately, Steve Merino, creative director and senior managing director of ab+c’s Philadelphia office, will be promoted to the position of managing partner and chief creative officer, succeeding McGivney in this role. Linda Shopa will remain managing partner and chief financial officer.
“After many decades at the helm of ab+c, I knew the time was right for me to plan my retirement and put our succession plan into action,” said Hawkins. “Growing the agency from a small shop to what it is today has been a pleasure, particularly working with extraordinarily talented professionals and wonderful clients over the years.”
“While this is bittersweet for me, our current leadership team, with the addition of Steve Merino, has never been stronger. I am excited about all we have accomplished together as well as what is yet to be accomplished by these individuals, working in partnership with our outstanding team of employees, who are among the best in our industry and also some of the nicest people I know. It has been a privilege to work with all of them, a
nd I see great things ahead for ab+c,” Hawkins concluded.
ab+c is a 45-year-old full-service marketing communications agency with offices in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Established in business-to-business and consumer marketing, the agency brings creative intelligence to local, regional, national and international accounts in a variety of industries. Adweek recently selected the agency as one of its 50 “Top Shops” in the nation.
