Jack Morton Announces New US President and Head of Growth US

Jack Morton, the leading global brand experience agency, proudly announces the promotion of John Howard to president, US and Ashley Brantman to SVP, head of growth US, co-head, Jack 39, alongside significant senior advancements in creative and client service roles. This strategic move follows last year’s appointment of Patrick Bennett as global chief creative officer, underscoring the agency’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Howard will oversee the agency’s US operations from Detroit, where he’s based, and report to Jack Morton’s CEO Craig Millon. Ashley will oversee new business development in the US while continuing her focus on Jack39 and remain based in Chicago, reporting into John.

In addition to John and Ashley’s promotions, Jack Morton is elevating its creative and client service leadership:

* Mary Trybus and Rob Parker have been promoted to senior vice presidents, executive creative directors, based in Detroit.

* Jeff Erin has been hired as senior vice president, executive creative director for Jack Health, based in LA.

* Souad Saied returns from McCann Sydney and HERO Sydney to become senior vice president, client experience, based in San Francisco.

* Erica Fram is promoted to senior vice president, general manager and will help oversee the agency’s operations on the East coast.

“We are laser focused on our growth this year and prioritising our leadership positions to ensure continued success of the overall business, while growing and mentoring our talent and expanding our practices and specialties. The dynamos we’ve elevated and added to the agency will play a key role in the future and how we manifest culture,” said Craig. “John has played an important role in the expansion of our business and I’m looking forward to this continuing across the US. Ashley has been a great partner for growth, and she’s only scratched the surface, so I’m excited to see what’s next.”

John Howard joined Jack Morton in 1999 as executive creative director of the Detroit operation, leveraging previous agency experience in the design and execution of internal and consumer experiences. He has created campaigns and experiences for a broad variety of brands, most notably the multiple business units within General Motors. In 2016 he was named managing director of the Detroit operation, which enabled him to apply his passions for innovation, culture and creative excellence to inspire, focus and grow the Detroit team.

“I’m energised by the moves we’re making across the agency, as we elevate key leaders like Mary, Rob, Jeff, Souad, and Erica, and continue to strengthen the capabilities of our teams,” said Howard. “My focus will be to enable greater talent-sharing across our offices, so we can swiftly apply the most impactful talent in support of each client, while also providing greater growth opportunities for all of our people.”

Ashley Brantman has spent 15+ years helping brands strategically invest in sports and entertainment platforms. Known for her expertise and superior client service, she has driven consistent growth across categories. In 2022, with Patrick Heffernan she co-launched Jack 39, the dedicated sponsorship consulting arm of Jack Morton, sustaining significant year-over-year growth since its inception. Ashley has already delivered outstanding results, helping to drive new and organic growth and elevate Jack Morton’s work in the market with new clients such as Jim Beam and Southwest Airlines.

Mary Trybus is an award-winning creative leader with more than 25 years of experience helping brands connect with their most important audiences. She had directed experiences for some of the world’s top brands, often on the world’s biggest stages, from the Olympics to the US Open to NY Fashion Week to the Grammys. Mary has expertise in the luxury space, spending more than a decade as the lead experiential creative director for the iconic American automotive brand Cadillac. Named a Campaign U.S.’ 2023 Inspiring Woman, she is passionate about pushing boundaries of brand storytelling, exploring new mediums, creative technologies and cultural collaborations to connect and engage.

Robert Parker is a hands-on, results-oriented creative leader with broad experience across the communications and marketing spectrum. From large-scale events attended by thousands to multi-faceted B2B experiences, he knows how to connect with audiences and move them to action. Parker has led the development of solutions across a broad range of brand initiatives and partnerships for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, MLB, NFL, the Country Music Awards, NASCAR and many others.

Jeff Erin is a seasoned creative leader with nearly two decades of experience elevating global brands with imaginative, poignant solutions. His expertise spans industries from action sports to healthcare, delivering dynamic, impactful creative that goes beyond the expected. Known for his sharp strategic thinking and compelling storytelling, Erin has worked with top-tier clients such as The North Face, Red Bull, Under Armour, Pfizer, Calloway Golf and Dell. He has already played a pivotal role in shaping Jack Health's recent standout work, driving innovative solutions for some of the company’s largest clients.

Known for her strategic approach to client partnerships, Souad Saied returns to Jack Morton after more than five years in Australia and Singapore, where she was Head of Growth for Asia. Most recently, she was managing director at McCann Sydney, where she led key client relationships with Mastercard, Microsoft, Fujifilm, Centrum, and Reckitt. Saied’s experience includes collaborating with brands like Google Cloud, Meta, Telstra, and EY to deliver integrated, impactful and results-driven work.

Erica Fram is a dynamic marketing leader with 20+ years' experience elevating global brands through strategic B2B and B2C growth initiatives. She has extensive expertise across client success, organic growth, and global new business strategy. Fram’s business leadership has spanned industries, delivering award-winning work for renowned brands like American Express, Google, Meta, Jaguar Land Rover, and AB InBev.