The three Cranford brothers who left advertising agency Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods of Little Rock in the past three months said Wednesday that they have formed their own agency, known as Cranford Co.
Jay, Ross and Chris Cranford will head up Cranford Co. The brothers will not have titles with Cranford Co., Ross Cranford said.
At Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, Jay Cranford was senior vice president and creative officer, Ross Cranford was vice president of tourism services and Chris Cranford was creative director of the firm's Jones Film Video division.
"We have the ability to engage audiences using the latest technologies like digital video and social media, with high production value for a variety of budgets," Chris Cranford said in a prepared statement.
The Cranfords are sons of Wayne Cranford, a founder of Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods.
Wayne Cranford will be associated with the new company in an "of counsel" role, according to the firm's website. A director in recent years, Wayne Cranford is no longer associated with the firm he helped start in 1961, said Ross Cranford.
Ross Cranford declined to identify any clients Cranford Co. may have landed.
Skip Rutherford, an executive with Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods from 1993-2006 and now dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, said the Cranford name "is synonymous with advertising success and innovation."
Cranford Co. is a "young, new full-service advertising agency that will compete for major, full-service clients," Rutherford said. "They have the potential to be strong competitors to the full-service advertising agencies."
Also joining the Cranfords are John Jacobs, Page Atkins and Mel French.
Jacobs, who has been in advertising for 17 years, has worked as a designer, animator, Web developer, copywriter and author. Atkins, an adviser to the new company, has provided advice in private equity, real estate development and Internet startup businesses, among other areas. French, who will be "of counsel" with Cranford Co., served as chief of protocol for President Bill Clinton's administration.
Cranford Co. is negotiating for office space in downtown Little Rock, Ross Cranford said.
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods has seen numerous changes in recent months.
Former publisher of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, Darin Gray was hired in February as Cranford Johnson's president.
The agency also announced in February that it is moving from its longtime office on West Capitol Avenue to the historic Fulk Building at Third and Main streets, as well as another building at the same intersection. The agency also has an office in Northwest Arkansas.
Business on 07/10/2014