Terri & Sandy Names Peyton Sutton as First President

Terri & Sandy, the ground breaking female-owned independent advertising agency, has appointed Peyton Sutton as its first president and announces the retirement of co-founder Terri Meyer, marking two historic milestones in its 14-year journey of creative excellence and industry leadership. In addition, Tony Scopellito, former Terri & Sandy managing director and long time colleague of Terri and Sandy, has chosen to step into a strategic growth advisory position for the agency.

A landmark moment in Terri & Sandy’s succession planning, Peyton’s appointment represents a fresh commitment to the principles that led to the agency’s success: award-winning creative work, enduring client relationships, and a passion for spreading messages of inclusivity. Terri & Sandy’s roster is lined with iconic brands, as well as marketplace disruptors, such as Princess Cruises, The Walt Disney Company, Freshpet, Nutella and BJ’s Wholesale Club. The agency has also been heralded for creating the globally renowned Strands for Trans non-profit organisation, which provides safe havens for trans people at barber shops and hair salons around the world.

As president, Peyton will work alongside co-founder and CEO, Sandy Greenberg, to usher in an exciting new chapter of growth for the company. Peyton’s success as a leader is rooted in her 10 years of experience on the client side, notably as a director of marketing for Subaru.

Peyton’s most recent role was at independent agency Curiosity, in Cincinnati, where she was executive vice president of client partnership. Peyton helped set the business strategy for the agency and delivered a 100% YOY client retention rate and over $10 million of organic revenue growth. She oversaw clients including Native, Brooks Running, DUDE Wipes, Zevo and Holland America Line.

Terri Meyer retires after a storied career in advertising that has spanned four decades. She was the driving force behind some of America’s most beloved and successful ad campaigns, including Oreo’s 'Milk’s Favorite Cookie,' Disney's 'Dream Big Princess,' and Gerber’s 'Anything for Baby.'

Terri got her start in 1980 as art director on Budweiser, Southwestern Bell and Mars at D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, St Louis. There she met copywriter Sandy Greenberg and began one of the longest-standing, and most successful creative partnerships in the industry,

In 1993, Terri and Sandy were recruited to become creative directors at J. Walter Thompson, NY, by James Patterson, the ad executive who became one of the world’s bestselling authors. At the time, less than 1% of creative directors were women. There, they created the highly successful Clairol campaign starring hair colour aficionado Linda Evangelista, as well as Kodak’s Olympic commercial featuring a little boy who turned the making of a Snow Angel into an Olympic event. As Bob Garfield wrote in Ad Age in 1994 “Perhaps no athlete engendered viewer emotion as poignantly, and repeatedly, as Tommy Higgins. Night after night, Tommy captivated America with his virtuoso performance.”

Next, FCB offered Terri and Sandy the opportunity to become executive creative directors on Nabisco cookies and snacks; shortly thereafter, they launched Oreo’s famed campaign: 'Milk’s Favorite Cookie.' The tagline is still on the package today, 20 years later. The duo also spearheaded Planters first-ever Super Bowl spot starring a woman with a unibrow who magnetically draws men to her thanks to her 'peanut perfume.' The spot landed in the Top 10 on the USA Today Ad Meter.

In 2010, after years of prodding from clients, colleagues, and friends, Terri and Sandy decided to venture out on their own. They started their agency on Terri’s dining room table and the lifelong partners penned their mantra, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, build your own table.”

“I’ve spent over 40 years in this industry. It’s been an incredible ride. The pinnacle has been the last 14 years building Terri & Sandy,” said Terri. “We have worked hard to create a culture built on creativity, effectiveness, long-term client relationships and a passion for advocating for world-changing ideas. I know we have found the perfect match in Peyton because she shares these values. I’m retiring from advertising with nothing short of total confidence about the future of Terri & Sandy, excited to see the agency build new capabilities, enter new categories, and continue to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive world.”

“Terri and I always joke that our relationship has outlasted many marriages. So this is a bittersweet moment. Her impact, leadership, creativity and unbounding warmth will live on forever at Terri & Sandy,” said Sandy. “Of course, with change always comes opportunity. And Peyton is the perfect change agent. She brings experience from both the brand and agency worlds adding a whole new level of energy, inspiration and passion to the company.”

“I’ve long admired Terri & Sandy for its heritage of building highly effective, impactful creative work that moves the needle for brands. Equally, I admire Terri Meyer and Sandy Greenberg - the people - as trailblazers in the advertising industry,” said Peyton. “They have paved the way for female leaders, and I’m honoured to have the opportunity to help carry the torch.”