Kevin DiLorenzo - AgencySpy

Olson COO Murphy Takes On New Title

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:55:22 +0000

Just to soothe the usual doomsday tips, we’ve been told by those in the know that Margaret Murphy‘s position as chief operating officer at Olson is indeed being eliminated, but the exec is very much within the fold at the Minneapolis-based agency. Murphy will now take on the role of president at Olson’s 1:1 loyalty marketing unit, which works with likes of Amtrak, Best Buy and Toys “R” Us, as president. From what we’ve been told, the role shift is part of a “flattening” of sorts of leadership at the agency courtesy of CEO John Partilla, who took over for Kevin DiLorenzo at the beginning of the year.

Murphy most recently served as president/COO at the agency and was part of the initial leadership team when Olson joined forces with Denali Marketing back in 2010. During her career, Murphy also spent nearly two decades at fellow Twin Cities operation Carlson Marketing Group, where she last served as SVP, client services.

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Partilla Takes Over as Olson CEO

Kiran Aditham — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:15:54 +0000

Once again, good on ya, tipsters. A major changing of the guards has indeed taken place at Minneapolis agency, Olson, as John Partilla has succeeded Kevin DiLorenzo as CEO. Partilla joins Olson from Dentsu Network West (which includes McGarryBowen, Firstborn and 360i), where he spent the last two years as chief operating officer of the Americas, Europe and Australia.

In a statement, the new chief exec (you know, this guy) says, “It’s a wonderful honor to have been selected to build on the strong foundation in place at Olson, which does great business- and brand-building work with smart and breakthrough creative. Olson’s holistic model is truly the real deal. More and more, you’re going to see us punching above our weight.”

As for DiLorenzo, a 10-year Olson vet who took over for John Olson as CEO back in 2010, the outgoing exec is not necessarily “out” at the agency as tipsters are telling us. The Olson camp says that he will “remain active with the agency as a significant shareholder, director and senior adviser to Partilla, playing an active role in ensuring a smooth transition.” Take that for what you will, but anyhow, the incoming CEO will now lead the indie agency’s client roster that includes Amtrak, Best Buy, MillerCoors, Northwestern Mutual, Target, Saucony and Wrigley.

Prior to his time at Dentsu, Partilla held senior-level posts at Time Warner, Clear Channel and spent nearly two decades at Y&R, where he founded and served as CEO of its BrandBuzz unit.

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Fugleberg, Olson Part Ways

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:44:15 +0000

After fourteen years at Olson, Tom Fugleberg is “leaving” the Minneapolis-based agency. From what we’ve been told, he is now ready to focus on working in his recording studio, consulting and fatherhood. Fugleberg was most recently named chief brand officer at Olson after spending five years as ECD. After the jump, you can check out the memo that Olson CEO Kevin DiLorenzo sent to staff just a couple of hours ago.

continued…

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Dennis Ryan Takes CCO Post at Olson

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:57:58 +0000

We’ve been hearing about Dennis Ryan‘s departure from Element 79 since the long weekend and now his next destination’s confirmed. Ryan, who had been with the the aforementioned Chicago-based shop for nearly a decade, is headed up to Minneapolis to take on the chief creative officer title at Olson. It’s a new position for Olson, which as we reported last week, promoted ECD Tom Fugleberg to chief brand officer.

Ryan, who spent the last several years as partner/CCO at Element 79, will relocate to to Minneapolis but will be spending one day a week “helping drive integration” at Olson’s Chicago office. Before Element 79, the 6’5″ Ryan spent a handful of years as an ECD at JWT, working on Dell, Blockbuster and Kraft business. Prior to that, he served as a creative for 13 years at DDB, moving up from copywriter to GCD during his tenure. In a statement, Olson CEO Kevin DiLorenzo says, “Dennis emerged quickly as a favorite in [the] CCO search. He has a sophisticated and polished creative sensibility, yet he embraces next-generation creativity.”

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Olson ECD Fugleberg Named Chief Brand Officer

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:38:49 +0000

A promotion, a lateral move, something else? However you want to slice it, Olson has appointed executive creative director Tom Fugleberg to the newly created position of chief brand officer. Fugleberg, who has been with Olson since 1997 and ECD since 2006, says in a statement, “To make the Olson brand my sole focus, and to be able to hand the reins of creative leadership over to someone who’s going to kick things to eleven, is a great privilege. I’m proud to be part of a company that does what it needs to do to become better every day, and I’m ready for this incredible new chapter for Olson.”

With this move, which somewhat reminds us of Euro RSCG’s arrangement with Steffan Postaer once Jason Peterson took over, Minneapolis-based Olson is now on a nationwide hunt for its first-ever CCO. Meanwhile, in his new post, Fugleberg has been “entrusted…as the keeper of the flame of our own very important Olson brand” according to agency president/CEO Kevin DiLorenzo.

Update: We’ve been told that the Fugleberg move is indeed a promotion and that the agency’s been working toward it for some time.

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Heinemann Transitions to SVP Gig at Olson

Michael Musco — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:37:30 +0000

A few short months after his firm Denali merged with Olson to create OlsonDenali, Greg Heinemann, managing partner and a founder at the former shop, has now moved into an SVP post at the latter, where he’ll work closely with the strategy and media groups and oversee the development of work and thinking with key clients.

Before Denali, Heinemann, who is being called “a shot of adrenaline to the system” in a statement by Olson CEO/president Kevin DiLorenzo, ran a brand consulting agency named Blackwatch and was president of Agency Eleven.

Heinemann adds in the announce, “I’m energized to be riding this next wave with Olson, building connections between individuals, communities and brands.” Current notable clients at the Minneapolis-based agency include Target, General Mills and CapitalOne.

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