The Designory Names Jan Thompson President and CEO
23 August 1999
The Designory Names Jan Thompson President and CEO
LONG BEACH, Calif.--Aug. 23, 1999--Janet M. Thompson has been appointed president and CEO of The Designory, Inc. it was announced today by Dave Almquist, founder and former CEO of the company."We are most fortunate to have Jan Thompson lead The Designory and Pinkhaus into a new era," said Almquist in announcing the appointment. "Her automotive marketing and sales background together with her experience in interactive technology will stimulate evolution and growth in our capabilities and operations, providing substantial benefit to both current and future clients."
Thompson brings to The Designory/Pinkhaus more than 22 years of experience in the automotive industry, as well as five years in the sporting goods industry developing interactive consumer products and experiences.
Since 1995 she has been vice president of Interactive Golf, a division of Callaway Golf Company in Carlsbad, Calif. During her tenure with this start-up company, Thompson transformed the technology Callaway Golf initially developed and utilized to internally test its products into interactive entertainment opportunities for the consumer. She established the Callaway Golf Performance Centers at Pebble Beach, Walt Disney World, Las Vegas and at Callaway Golf headquarters in Carlsbad.
Thompson began her career in 1972 when she joined Chrysler Corporation's management training program in Detroit, making her one of the first women to work in an automotive sales organization.
Over the next 12 years she rose through the Chrysler ranks, leaving in 1984 to join Toyota Motor Sales USA where she ultimately became National Marketing Director for Lexus. In this post, she was responsible for developing all of the marketing plans to support the launch of the Lexus brand and the LS 400.
In 1988, Thompson was recruited by Mazda Motor Company of America in Irvine as vice president of Marketing. She developed the strategic marketing plans that launched eight new products and went on to become vice president, Sales Operations in 1993. During this time, Mazda achieved record passenger car retail sales performance and posted an all-time record of 89% profitable dealers in 1994.
Commenting on the announcement, Thomas L. Harrison, Chairman of Diversified Agency Services, which owns The Designory, Inc. said, "Jan Thompson will be a tremendous asset to The Designory, Pinkhaus and the DAS network of companies. Her client side grasp of the power of a well articulated brand, coupled with her proven ability to implement large scale integrated marketing campaigns, an understanding of cutting edge communications technologies and a tremendous capacity to grow a business are in perfect sync with DAS philosophy."
As president and CEO, Thompson will oversee both the direction and operations of The Designory and Pinkhaus. Founder Almquist will become chairman emeritus of The Designory, while Steve Horman assumes the title of President of Pinkhaus and Managing Director of The Designory.
Under Thompson's leadership, The Designory will expand upon its multi-disciplinary design approach to create totally integrated marketing communications for its clients.
On her new charge Thompson said, "I have known Dave Almquist for a long time and have tremendous respect for him, The Designory and its work. The company is at exactly the right place to leverage design's power to build integrated brands in any medium."
Established in 1970 in Long Beach, The Designory is a firm of marketing communications designers who specialize in brand integration. Best known for their award-winning work in the automotive industry, The Designory also owns Pinkhaus, a Miami-based design consultancy serving a wide range of industries. The Designory was acquired by the Omnicom Group, Inc.'s Diversified Agency Services group in March 1999.
Omnicom Group, Inc. the leading marketing communications company in the world, consists of advertising agency networks BBDO Worldwide, DDB Needham Worldwide and TBWA Worldwide. The group also includes Goodby, Silverstein & Partners; Diversified Agency Services (DAS), which operates a number of leading, independently branded companies in marketing services and specialty communications; and Communicade, a division of wholly owned and significant minority investment interests in several leading interactive and new media companies.
Note to Editors: Photo available upon request.