VMLY&R Promotes Allison Pierce to Executive Creative Director

VMLY&R has promoted Allison Pierce to executive creative director. Since joining the agency in 2010, she has been a major force at VMLY&R, producing some of the company’s most innovative and awarded work. Pierce has overseen creative for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development for the past five years and lent her creative talents to other current and former VMLY&R client brands, including Gatorade, Wendy’s, Kashi, Electrolux/Frigidaire and Cobra Puma Golf.

Most recently, she helped lead an all-female team in creating Bumble’s first-ever Super Bowl spot featuring tennis star Serena Williams.

She’s also been integral in several VMLY&R new business wins, including the recent agency of record win for Boehringer Ingelheim Equine.

“Alli is a creative force,” said John Godsey, VMY&R North American chief creative officer. “First off, she is an incredible writer and her ability to connect a brand’s essence to a human insight is uncanny. Then once she makes that connection, she finds ways to execute ideas that have never been done before.”

As group creative director on Tennessee, Pierce spearheaded “The Colorblind Viewer — an experiential campaign that launched a scenic viewer equipped with high-tech lenses to make it possible for colorblind people to see fall colors for the first time. The campaign went on to win multiple Cannes Lions and a gold cube at the Art Directors Club, among others.

Multi-awarded with Cannes Lions, the One Show, Effies, ADDYs, Clios, Effies and The Webby’s, Pierce’s expertise in advertising creative has been recognized by numerous international and local advertising award panels.

The impact of Pierce’s work is equally impressive. Since she was appointed lead on the account, Tennessee has seen record-breaking tourism numbers each year, and its ROI results are reinventing travel marketing standards.

“Alli has been an integral part of our creative journey at VMLY&R,” said Debbi Vandeven, global chief creative officer. “Her leadership will continue to help us write our future. And while we can’t always predict what’s next in this business, we can always count on Alli to help invent it.”

In a career spanning 12 years, Pierce has spent time working across a number of global and national brands, like Gatorade, Sonic Drive-In, Blue Bunny Ice Cream and UMB Bank. She balances her professional life with being a mom of two young children and enjoys showing horses.

Pierce will report to John Godsey, North American chief creative officer. She will continue to be based in VMLY&R’s Kansas City office.