J. Brown Folds into G2; CEO Dorgan Departs
Grey Global Group is folding J. Brown Agency into its G2 Worldwide division as J. Brown CEO Tim Dorgan leaves the agency.
Grey decided in March to consolidate all its marketing services globally, including J. Brown, under the G2 moniker. Dorgan’s departure last week simplifies the consolidation in the U.S., where J. Brown and design shop G2 New York adopt the names G2 Promotional Marketing and G2 Branding & Design, respectively. The two divisions have been pitching and servicing clients together for several months.
Grey veteran Jason Press takes the helm of both divisions; he has been president of G2 Branding & Design for one year, and now adds the title of president of G2 Promotional Marketing. Press has been with Grey since 1989, first working on client services at promo shop Beaumont Bennett.
J. Brown veteran Vince Weiner becomes director of client and practice development for both divisions; he has been executive VP-business development for J. Brown. Weiner has been with J. Brown since 1989, and for a while in 2004-05 held the title of president of J. Brown’s Stamford office.
Jonathan Dodd takes the new post of global discipline chief, overseeing expansion of G2’s promotions work in North America. Dodd will pursue acquisitions and organic growth for G2 Promotional Marketing. He continues to serve as a director on G2’s global management board.
Joe Celia remains as chairman-CEO of G2 Worldwide, overseeing all of Grey’s below-the-line marketing work.
Dorgan took charge of J. Brown in September 2004, just as WPP Group was finalizing its $1.52 billion purchase of Grey Global Group (PROMO November 2004). The hope at the time was that J. Brown could work with WPP’s other promo shops—including 141 Worldwide, Wunderman and Einson Freeman—but there hasn’t been much collaboration. At the same time, J. Brown has faced stiffer competition for retail-marketing work as other promo agencies build shopper-marketing expertise and compete in J. Brown’s arena.
Stamford, CT-based J. Brown ranked No. 52 in the 2005 PROMO 100, with estimated 2004 net revenues of $31 million, up an estimated 8% from 2002.
