KRISTIN BLOOMQUIST ASSUMES EVP/GENERAL MANAGER ROLE FOR
CRAMER-KRASSELT/PHOENIX
~ Retiring John Melamed hands over reins to former SRI Partner and Head of Deutsch LA ~
PHOENIX – January 25, 2011 – Leading industry independent Cramer-Krasselt (C-K) has announced Kristin Bloomquist, 50, who joined its Phoenix office in September 2009 as senior vice president, marketing strategy, will succeed Executive Vice President/General Manager John Melamed as head of that office. Bloomquist assumes the role effective February 1, as Melamed retires after 30 years in the business, including 20 with Cramer-Krasselt.
Said Cramer-Krasselt President and CEO Peter Krivkovich: “John is about as amazing as it gets: Great wit. Great smile. Great strategic intellect and great team leadership skills. He’s contributed to our growth from an agency of $100 million in annual billings 20 years ago to a nearly $1 billion one today, in nearly every capacity, in multiple offices. We’re going to miss him as he revs up his Harley. But knowing John, he’ll keep circling back and checking on Kristin, who is every bit like John, just without a Harley.”
With stints in media, research/planning, promotions and public relations, Melamed’s experience across several disciplines gave him the big-picture perspective to lead a fully integrated agency, most recently in Phoenix and before that at C-K Milwaukee. During his tenure, he helped grow the office into the region’s largest and most awarded, attracting clients such as Blue Man Group, Cox Communications, University of Phoenix and Zicam.
Prior to joining C-K, Melamed spent nine years with Hoffman York. He taught and played professional tennis through his undergraduate and graduate school years, at Princeton and University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, respectively. He’ll continue his involvement in philanthropic and business organizations, including his current posts on the Board of Liberty Wildlife and Executive Committee of the Men’s Anti-Violence Network (MAN).
Bloomquist’s robust and “tri-coastal” background prior to joining C-K included stints at leading search firm SelectResources International (SRI), where she led new business reviews and managed client consulting projects as senior partner. Before joining SRI in 2004, she spent 10 years with Deutsch, Inc., where she opened Deutsch’s Los Angeles office and helped to grow it into a 300-person agency, and led their client services group as partner/director of account management overseeing brands such as Coors, Expedia, TGI Fridays, Burger King and DIRECTV. Prior to Deutsch, she was with Jordan McGrath (now Arnold) as senior vice president/management supervisor, running the Nestle USA business and opening the agency’s first satellite office in California. Bloomquist started her career as an assistant account executive with DDB/New York and also spent time at J. Walter Thompson/Chicago.
Said Bloomquist: “I am honored to be part of this incredible company and to step into the role of general manager in Phoenix. This office has a fantastic team of talented and smart people who are energized to do great work for our clients – work that has the power to ‘change the conversation’ and importantly, deliver results.”
About Cramer-Krasselt
Cramer-Krasselt is the second-largest independent marketing and communications agency in the U.S., with billings nearing $1 billion. An Advertising Age “Agency to Watch” three years running, C-K has grown by more than 60 percent over the past five years. C-K is frequently recognized for its insight-driven creativity—spanning advertising, digital, engagement strategies and public relations—that helps clients change the conversation within their category. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in New York, Milwaukee and Phoenix, it represents major brands across virtually every industry, including: Benjamin Moore, Bissell, BRP (including Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo brands), Burlington Coat Factory, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Corona Extra, Crocs, Inc., Edward Jones, H. J. Heinz Co., Johnsonville Sausage, Porsche Cars North America and Zicam. For more information, visit Cramer-Krasselt at www.c-k.com.
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