Jim Kelly Email & Phone Number

Chicago

I was the very first creative hire on the argenx business and remain a key member of this fantastic team. I've overseen creative concepting and execution on a boatload of award-winning programs, including the Cannes Lion-winning MG documentary A Mystery To Me. Other awards include the Effies, the Webbys, Fierce Pharma Awards, PM360, MM+M Awards, Clio Health, DTC Awards ... honestly too many to list. Earning so many creative accolades while successfully launching multiple indications and driving fantastic business results for argenx has been and continues to be an amazing experience.

Chicago

Chicago

Throughout my tenure at Catapult (and sister agency Ryan), I've led creative teams on several pieces of business, including Wrigley, Kraft, and Kellogg's, and helped win several more, including KitchenAid, Pernod Ricard, and Bel Brands. I helped launch the digital practice at Ryan Chicago, and then also at Catapult, serving there as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Focusing mostly on promotions, shopper marketing, and digital programs, we've scored a number of major creative honors, including several Reggie Awards, Pro Awards, Hub Prizes, The Effies, W3 Awards, and favorable press in Creativity Online, Adweek, and Huffington Post—a cover story on program launch day, no less! One of our programs was even turned into a network TV special run on CBS and Nickelodeon. It's been a fun ride.

Was hired with a specific mission: to protect the agency’s single largest project; Monopoly at McDonald’s. After three years of successful shoot-outs against McDonald’s other retained agencies, and year after year of award-winning creative campaigns and positive sales comps, the client eliminated the pitch process and awarded the business to us outright. I also concepted, sold in, and directed the execution of numerous incremental programs worth millions in agency fees, including the Shrek Forever After All-Family Promotion, McDonald's Global Packaging Re-branding, McDonald’s Flavor Battle at the Sprite Step Off, the Big Mac Taste the Glory World Cup promotion, U Pick The Winners NCAA Tournament promotion, and many more. Among numerous creative awards over the past five years, my team took First Place in Promo Magazine’s 2010 Interactive Marketing Awards for the 2009 Monopoly at McDonald’s website.

Long-term freelance gig creating award-winning brand advertising and integrated marketing communications for John Deere, Boeing, Kraft, and Circuit City, among others. Loved the cafeteria, but found myself getting a little uncomfortable with the limitations, redundancies, and precarious outlook of traditional advertising.

Crafted award-winning national brand advertising (TV, print and radio) for Sears, Miller Brewing, Ameritrade, and Illinois Lottery among others. Served as primary creative contact for Illinois Lottery, and as part of the brand team that helped successfully defend the Sears business in a “jump ball” between the client’s two roster shops.

Crafted award-winning national brand advertising for various Wrigley's brands (Juicy Fruit, Everest, Extra) and Kahlúa, among others. Served as primary creative contact for Amurol gum brands, which included Everest Gum and Bubble Tape. Helped win several pieces of new business, including Kahlúa, Quotesmith.com, and National Potato Board.

Copywriter/Conceptor crafting promotions and 360º marketing for MasterCard, Absolut, Southwestern Bell, Wrangler, and Budweiser, among others. Helped win the MasterCard and Absolut business, and became primary creative contact for MasterCard. My boss, a DDB alum, encouraged me to build my first advertising portfolio, which turned out good enough to inspire an extremely low-stakes bidding war between DDB and BBDO.

My stint on the client side of marketing came at this training company serving the banking industry. Handled all aspects of marketing communications, including direct mail, catalogs, database marketing, trade shows, managing outside creative services, etc. This is where I learned to look at marketing the way clients do: solution neutral, results mandatory.

Served as the sole copywriter (and the guy who changed the furnace filter) at this small integrated marketing communications agency. Did everything from press kits to print ads for regional clients in a variety of industries, from engineering services firms to famous local restaurants. Emulating David Ogilvy, whose book I had practically memorized at that point, I crafted a postcard campaign for Kinzie Street Bistro that rang up a 25% response rate. To quote Ogilvy on Advertising, I had "tasted blood."