HZDG Hires Ron Thompson and Quan Hoang as Creative Directors

Integrated advertising agency HZDG continues its growth and expansion with the addition of two senior-level creative directors, said Karen Zuckerman, president and chief creative officer of the national, independent firm today. Ron Thompson and Quan Hoang join as Creative Director and Interactive Creative Director, respectively.

“With deep experience across a broad range of subjects, Ron and Quan will each contribute to HZDG’s ongoing mission to deliver top-notch creativity and innovative solutions to complex challenges,” said Zuckerman.

Ron Thompson, a Maryland native whose first client work was for the Baltimore Orioles, built his career over the past two decades at Baltimore-based Siquis Ltd. From art director he rose to creative chief overseeing the development of all forms of advertising and design, executed in a variety of media. The recipient of awards and recognition from The One Show, London International, Communication Arts and more, Ron has worked on clients ranging from Lenox China and Woolrich Outdoorwear to Spirit Airlines, Maryland Tourism and Simpson Race Products. He’s responsible for leading HZDG’s teams in the ideation, development and implementation of campaigns across all media.

Quan Hoang joins HZDG from Norfolk, VA-based GROW. There, as creative director, his work included projects for Google’s Art, Copy & Code initiative -- Nike’s Phenomenal Shot campaign and Madden’s Giferator. The latter, created in partnership with EA Games, won multiple industry awards from D&AD Pencils to Cannes Lions. Quan has worked at agencies across the US, from Pixel Farm and Periscope, both in Minneapolis/St.Paul, to Zoo Collective in New York City, as well as the start-up Basis Science (now owned by Intel) in San Francisco. At HZDG, he will work across all creative teams, with a focus on digital innovation and integrated storytelling, executed in a strategic combination of media.

“I chose HZDG for two reasons: the talented people and HZ’s commitment to integrated storytelling,” said Quan. “For marketing to be innovative and relevant, we need to knock down all the walls that separate one kind of advertising from another. People don’t see these walls, so why should advertisers?”

HZDG appealed to Ron because of the agency’s focus on emerging communication tools, its strong appreciation for design aesthetics, the recent addition of an editorial team to help shape creative thinking and, he says, “an overall enthusiasm for what’s next.” 

Both Ron and Quan will be based in HZDG’s Rockville headquarters, collaborating with the agency’s Baltimore, Santa Cruz and New York City offices.