Alma’s Executive Board (from left to right): Alvar Sunol, Marta Insua, Angela Battistini, Luis Miguel Messianu, Michelle Headley, and Isaac Mizrahi at Alma’s Summer celebration.
Last Friday Luis Miguel Messianu, Founder and President of Alma, broke the news about updates in the agency’s leadership structure.
“We are obviously a different agency than the one we were in 1994 when we started with 12 people and a big dream,” he said. “In the last 5 years alone we’ve doubled in size, and although the fact that there are 150 of us here today is certainly a matter of pride, it’s also a reason to renew our commitment and gear up to conquer even more ground.”
He then announced the appointment of Isaac Mizrahi and Alvar Suñol as co-presidents of the agency. Mizrahi becomes Co-President, Chief Operating Officer and Suñol is now Co-President, Chief Creative Officer. Together the pair will lead the agency’s focus on balancing art and business, marketing and creativity. Messianu will continue his full commitment, now moving into the role of Creative Chairman and CEO. He intends to focus on the continued growth of the agency and developing strategic relationships, along with fueling the agency’s non-conformist culture.
Also promoted were Angela Battistini (now Senior Vice President, Business Services) and Michelle Headley (now Senior Vice President, Operations). “It’s a recognition of their dedication, commitment and invaluable contributions to the agency — they’ve each been with us since the doors opened in 1994 and are an integral part of the agency’s success — but more importantly, it’s a benchmark for the continued growth of great leaders working on their respective teams,” says Messianu.
The changes indeed reflect the agency’s growth, accounting for over 40 hires in the last 6 months alone. Alma recently acquired the U.S. Hispanic accounts for Sprint, Bud Light and American Cancer Society, and general market client South Florida Commuter Services. Alma also appeared on Ad Age’s A-list 4 times since 2010, and has been the Multicultural Agency of the Year for two years running.
Recognition for Alma’s creative work, a combination of storytelling leading with cultural insights, has spiked as well. Just this year they brought home a Lion and 4 shortlists from the Cannes Festival, and were the most awarded U.S. Hispanic agency at Wave Festival, El Sol, FIAP and U.S.H. Ideas. Among the highlights, you might recall “First Customer” for McDonald’s, the poignant “Spoon” commercial for AARP, Cannes winner “Species II” for Green Works, the “Fast Lighting Charcoal” campaign for Kingsford, and the new McDonald’s musical, “Lovin’“.
To keep up with agency news and new work, visit AlmaAd.com and all its social media accounts can be found under @AlmaAgency.