Overview

Company Summary

VML is a lead marketing agency that transforms brands through a connected consumer experience. VML's clients include Bridgestone, Colgate-Palmolive, Electrolux/Frigidaire, Ford, Microsoft, New Balance, PepsiCo, Sprint, Tyson and Wendy's. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VML joined the world's largest communications services group, WPP, in 2001. VML has more than 3,000 employees with principal offices in 33 locations across six continents.

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Staff

Total Number of Employees

Office Employees: 500+
Total US: 500+
Total Worldwide: 500+

Brian Yamada
Chief Innovation Officer
As Chief Innovation Officer, Brian leads this integrated VML team to leverage VML capability and expertise across media, social, search, mobile and emerging media. This team is designed to bring clarity from digital chaos and understand a client’s best opportunities across a brand’s digital ecosystem to engage for impact — and continue to measure, build and optimize the client’s brand and business.

Brian joined VML in 1999 and helped lead one of the first major online media campaigns. His portfolio of past and present client partners includes BP/Castrol, Dell, Ernst & Young, Gatorade, H&R Block, Hallmark, HSBC, Intuit, Revlon, Southwest Airlines, State Farm Insurance, Warner Bros. and Western Union.

Brian has a passion for planning and strategy. He loves the pursuit of the big idea, and he finds it ironic that the faster technology moves, the less time people think they have.

Brian is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Away from the office, he spends most of his time with his wife and children . Occasionally Brian scares fish and fishermen alike with his rudimentary fly-fishing skills.

Jon Cook
CEO
A driving force at VML since 1996, Jon has served as global CEO since 2011. During his tenure, the agency has grown from 30 employees in Kansas City, Missouri, to more than 3,000 VMLers across six continents.
Jon helped lead VML to Advertising Age A-List honors — recognizing the industry’s top ten most influential and impactful agencies — each of the past three years (2016-2018). He guides VML’s ongoing evolution as an agency that transforms brands, equally advancing all facets of VML’s offerings, including strategy, campaign, and content work; deep technology solutions; and more. He is committed to helping the world’s top brands communicate with customers through a comprehensive connected experience.
Since 2011, Jon has spearheaded VML’s global expansion. The VML global network now includes 33 offices in 15 countries. VML serves some of the world's most recognized and respected brands, including Bayer Animal Health, Bridgestone, Colgate-Palmolive, Electrolux/Frigidaire, Ford, Microsoft, NAPA AUTO PARTS, New Balance, PepsiCo, Sherwin-Williams Consumer Brands Group, Sprint, Tyson and Wendy’s.
Jon was named one of the 100 most influential people in advertising, as designated by Adweek and the 4A’s. He was also recognized as the Advertising Professional of the Year by the American Advertising Federation-Kansas City (AAF-KC) and was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award program.
A leading advocate of the VML Foundation, the agency's employee-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization, Jon serves on the advisory board. He is a member of the National Advisory Board of the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, and a board member of the Head for the Cure Foundation, a national organization dedicated to discovering cures for brain cancer.
Jon graduated from the University of Missouri in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in journalism. In May 2018, Jon will deliver the commencement address at the Missouri School of Journalism graduation ceremony. He relishes spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their three daughters. The family especially enjoys hiking together.

Feel free to contact Jon at:
Jon Cook
VML CEO and President
+1.816.218.2800
[email protected]

For additional information, please contact:
Jennifer Puett
Executive Assistant
816-218-3098
[email protected]

Eric Campbell
President
As VML’s president, Eric provides strategic leadership and business planning across VML’s global offices, ensuring continued growth for current client engagements and new business efforts. He is known for his ability to introduce inventive ways to connect with client partners to enable them to better navigate the ever-changing world of digital-driven marketing.

Since joining VML in 1999, Eric’s been pivotal in the continued evolution of VML’s capabilities, playing key roles across departments and client teams while providing executive leadership to key strategic accounts across the agency. He is known for his fearless approach to providing innovative ways to solve business challenges and deliver results for clients. Eric possesses a unique combination of marketing strategy, creativity,
and technology and operations experience to best apply VML’s know-how to deliver solutions.

Eric has served on the VML Executive Leadership Team since 2007, most recently as chief business officer, where he was responsible for the agency’s business development practice. He was also responsible for the launch of VML Seattle in 2004 while leading the Microsoft business, and has been integral in VML’s inclusion in other Team WPP operations such as Cavalry, which services Coors Light, Coors Banquet and MillerCoors.

Eric has been central to expanding the VML footprint and unifying agency operations to provide a connected capability focused on serving as the leading strategic partner for the world’s most forward-thinking brands.

In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time with his family. He is also an avid baseball fan and enjoys the lifelong challenge of improving his golf game. He is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri and holds a Bachelor of Science in graphic arts technology management.

Debbi Vandeven
Chief Creative Officer
With more than 20 years of advertising and digital experience, Debbi has earned a reputation for exceptional, on-strategy creative solutions that drive business for clients and connect with consumers through integrated channels. Since joining VML in 2000, she has led creative engagements for brands such as Carlson Hotels, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Gatorade, Kellogg’s, Revlon, Southwest Airlines, U.S. Bank, Wendy’s and Xerox.

Her creative leadership has enabled VML to become one of the top global digital agencies today with more than 26 offices and 2,400 employees worldwide.

She has served on several international award juries, including for Art Directors Club and New York Festivals. VML’s creative teams have garnered accolades from top international shows, including Cannes Lions, London International Awards, CLIO, Webby Awards, One Show, OMMA and Effie Awards, among others.

VML’s recent achievements include being named a Standout Shop by Advertising Age in 2012 and awarded with seven Lions at Cannes in the same year.

Debbi is a strong supporter of initiatives advancing women in creative leadership and mentoring talent to help women develop the interpersonal skills it takes to succeed in today’s industry.

Craig Braasch
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer for VML, Craig Braasch leads planning, channel activation, project management, human resources and facilities. In this role, Craig is responsible for ensuring VML is prepared to meet the growing needs of both clients and employees. A primary focus is managing company growth through cross-discipline integration, planning and organizational strategy. Craig is also actively involved in managing a variety of VML’s relationships with WPP partner companies.

Before joining the company in 2004 as Director of Client Service, Craig spent two years at Burger King in Miami as Vice President, Global Advertising and Youth Marketing. At Burger King he managed a budget of more than $300 million, including digital activity supported by VML. Before Burger King, Craig was Managing Director of Worldwide Advertising and Sponsorships at Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis. During his 10 years at Northwest, Craig relied on VML to develop many local marketing and national retail efforts.

Craig started his marketing career in Los Angeles and spent six years in account management, primarily at J. Walter Thompson.

Outside of VML, Craig enjoys spending time with his family, including serving as a roadie for his son’s band, attending his children’s sporting events and boating activities.

Jim Bellinghausen
Chief Financial Officer
Jim joined VML’s executive management team in 2007 as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. Over this short period of time, he has seen the agency double in size. Jim is responsible for managing the finance and accounting functions of VML, including financial reporting, contract negotiation, billing, collection, payroll and budgeting as well as supporting the organization’s financial analysis and reporting needs. He also manages the financial reporting relationships with VML’s parent company WPP and with the company's subsidiaries, Studiocom and VML London.

Jim is a Certified Public Accountant whose career spans more than 25 years. Most recently he served as Vice President of Finance and CFO for Saia, Inc., one of the most successful regional shipping firms in the United States. His financial experience also includes work for YRC Worldwide, where he managed corporate budget and financial reporting and consolidation processes as Director of Corporate Accounting, and Arthur Andersen, where he led audits, financial consulting and other engagements for clients in diverse industries.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy.

When Jim is not “crunching numbers,” he enjoys spending time with his family, following his son’s sports teams and playing an occasional round of golf.

Todd Kirtley
Chief Information Officer
Todd is responsible for all technical direction and architecture decisions for VML. Since he joined the company in 2002, Todd’s priority has been to advance VML’s technical capabilities beyond strategic initiatives to provide improved technical products and services for VML clients. His 15-year tenure in multiple industries has afforded opportunities and insight to the manufacturing, airline and technology sectors.

Before being named Chief Information Officer, Todd spent two years leading the implementation of an enterprise web portal strategy for one of VML’s largest clients. He previously worked at eSecurityOnline, Ernst & Young LLP, where he was the Director of Application Development & Data Services. He managed all software engineering, quality assurance and data management initiatives.

Todd graduated from the College of the Ozarks in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in business.

He spends his free time with his wife and two children.

Mike Yardley
Chief Integration Officer
Mike is responsible for integration of key disciplines and executive oversight of some of VML’s largest clients, including Dell, Charter, Ernst & Young, Campbell's, U.S. Bank and Hill's Pet Nutrition. In addition, he is involved in VML’s expanding global offering with offices and clients throughout the world.

Mike leverages his more than 17 years of digital experience at VML to ensure clients receive superior digital strategy and execution across all communication channels, technology and creative solutions. His unyielding passion for combining marketing and technology to solve client needs and create a competitive advantage in the marketplace has been a major contributor to VML's success. Before joining VML, Mike was involved in various aspects of high technology marketing and sales since 1981.

Mike brings an unyielding passion to his clients, guiding their success and growth in the digital channel by blending marketing and technology to deliver innovative, difference-making programs. His knowledge of the digital space and ability to provide actionable plans that fully utilize integrated marketing have helped lead the way in providing clients with forward-thinking solutions. Under Mike's leadership, teams have won a number of advertising, digital marketing and industry awards.

Mike is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City with a degree in business studies.

In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, serving in the community and reading a good book.

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Clients and Brands

Client & Brands	Start Date
Bayer	N/A
Ford	N/A
Sprint	N/A
Electrolux / Frigidaire	N/A
Tyson	N/A
Kimberly-Clark	N/A
PepsiCo	N/A
Kellogg	N/A
Colgate-Palmolive	N/A

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Billings & Revenue

Billing / Revenue Ranges	Number of Clients

Total Gross Media Placed by this Office

Allocation Percent of Media Placed by this Office
Local Broadcast: 5%
National Broadcast: 5%
Digital: 80%
Print: 5%
Out of Home: 5%

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Types of Services

Service Offering	Revenue

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Industry Experience

Food & Beverage | alcoholic beverages
Automotive | aftermarket
Telecommunications
Food & Beverage | pet food
Professional Services (accountants, consultants, lawyers)
Technology | consumer electronics
Healthcare | medical products
Food & Beverage | soft drinks
Technology | communications
Healthcare | pharmaceutical
Agriculture
Technology | .com business
Real Estate | buildings & construction
Healthcare | direct to consumer (DTC)
Travel | hotels & resorts
Financial services | Banking - Consumer
Business Services & office products
Entertainment & Culture | amusement parks
Government | economic development
Financial services | insurance
Appliances
Technology | electronics
Non-profit, associations & public services
Recreation & Sports | hobbies
Household Supplies
Travel | airlines
Recreation & Sports | toys & games
Healthcare | managed care
Luxury & Imported products
Travel | tourism
Food & Beverage | food
Apparel & Fashion | footwear
Cosmetics, perfumes & toiletries
Financial services | credit cards
Financial services | investments
Apparel & Fashion | apparel
Technology | computer hardware & software
Automotive | vehicles
Restaurants
Healthcare | Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities, Medical Services
Government | military & defense
Retail

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