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Jon Cook became VML CEO and President in February 2011 after serving as the agency’s President since January 2007. Previously, he served as managing partner.

Jon joined VML in 1996; since then, the agency has grown from 30 employees to more than 900 around the world, including the Kansas City headquarters and principal offices in New York, Seattle, London, Milan, Geneva and Auckland.

During his tenure, Jon has been one of the driving forces behind VML’s expanded digital capabilities and an integral part of a leadership team that transformed the agency into a global digital powerhouse.

Jon is wholeheartedly focused on developing client partnerships, balanced between B2B and consumer-facing client partners. He draws upon years of experience working with VML client partners such as Gatorade, Kellogg, Microsoft, Sam’s Club, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, SAP, Southwest Airlines, Western Union and others.

As the agency’s key business development leader, Jon has played a major role in the agency’s sustained growth. He dedicates a significant amount of time, energy and enthusiasm to cultivating new and burgeoning client engagements.

Jon graduated from the University of Missouri in 1993 with a B.S. in journalism and he supported the Missouri School of Journalism centennial program (celebrated in 2008) in several capacities.

 Jon is a member of the leadership board of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), a member of various WPP digital leadership groups and a board member of the Advertising Club of Kansas City Foundation.

In 2009, Jon was selected by Ingram’s business magazine as one of Kansas City’s most successful young professionals and community leaders.

He spends his free time with his wife and their three daughters.

Matt joined VML as the fourth partner in early 1995, serving as Managing Partner. The partnership elected Matt as its first CEO in 1999. He held the Chief Executive position for 12 years until personally appointing his longtime colleague Jon Cook as CEO in February 2011.

Matt became Global Chairman in early 2011. He has had immeasurable impact on VML’s steady expansion, leading the company from one client and 10 employees in the mid-1990s to now more than 900 employees serving industry-leading client partners around the globe.

With a deep background in traditional advertising as well as experience in promotions and media relations, Matt guided VML to explore the new world of interactive and digital marketing opportunities. Together with his leadership team, he led successful client partnerships with Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, Microsoft, Tom’s of Maine, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Sprint and many more.

In 2001 as CEO, Matt led VML’s decision to join WPP, the world’s largest collection of communication companies. The result has been unprecedented expansion for VML. Matt holds various leadership roles within WPP and its strategic planning groups; he is a board member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. In 2010, Matt was named Advertising Professional of the Year by the American Advertising Federation of Kansas City.

Throughout his career, Matt has been a tireless supporter of philanthropic endeavors. In memory of his brother Chris, who suffered from a glioblastoma brain tumor and died in 2003 at age 37, Matt and his family established the Head for the Cure Foundation to raise awareness and funding for brain cancer research.

Matt holds numerous philanthropic volunteer board positions, including with the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, Council on Foreign Relations, Head for the Cure Foundation, Turning Point and VML Foundation.

A native Nebraskan, Matt played intercollegiate soccer at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in marketing and communications. 

Away from the office, Matt spends time with his wife and their three children.

Eric directs the imaginative output for VML around the world. As the agency’s Chief Innovation Officer, he is focused on making VML one of the world’s most inventive digital marketing networks available.

Eric joined VML in 1994, and designed and implemented many top companies’ first-ever online presence. Additionally, for more than 15 years, he has helped guide the evolution of many brands to the online space. Eric’s past clients include Diageo, Ernst & Young, WPP and T-Mobile, where he led creative strategy and development.

Eric continues to deliver global innovation for some of the world's most distinguished brands. He currently serves as the Global Creative Lead for Team Microsoft, which consists of five companies and more than 300 Creative team members in 50 countries. 

His works has won numerous awards from W3 to the International Academy of Visual Arts, ADDYs, CA, Print, Webbys and more.

Eric continues to stretch the boundaries of digital engagement, design, innovation and communication technology in the business-to-business and consumer space, as well as application development, mobile and social marketing. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and workshops around the world.

Jim joined VML’s executive management team in 2007 as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. Over this short period of time, he has seen the agency double in size. Jim is responsible for managing the finance and accounting functions of VML, including financial reporting, contract negotiation, billing, collection, payroll and budgeting as well as supporting the organization’s financial analysis and reporting needs. He also manages the financial reporting relationships with VML’s parent company WPP and with the company's subsidiaries, Studiocom and VML London.

Jim is a Certified Public Accountant whose career spans more than 25 years. Most recently he served as Vice President of Finance and CFO for Saia, Inc., one of the most successful regional shipping firms in the United States. His financial experience also includes work for YRC Worldwide, where he managed corporate budget and financial reporting and consolidation processes as Director of Corporate Accounting, and Arthur Andersen, where he led audits, financial consulting and other engagements for clients in diverse industries.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy.

When Jim is not “crunching numbers,” he enjoys spending time with his family, following his son’s sports teams and playing an occasional round of golf.

As Chief Operating Officer for VML, Craig Braasch leads planning, project management, human resources, IT and operations/facilities. In this role, Craig is responsible for ensuring VML is prepared to meet the changing needs of both clients and employees. A primary focus is managing company growth through cross-discipline integration, planning and organization. Craig is also actively involved in managing a variety of VML’s relationships with WPP partner companies.

Before joining the company in 2004 as Director of Client Service, Craig spent two years at Burger King in Miami as Vice President, Global Advertising and Youth Marketing. At Burger King he managed a budget of more than $300 million, including online activity supported by VML. Before Burger King, Craig was Managing Director of Worldwide Advertising and Sponsorships at Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis. During his 10 years at Northwest, Craig relied on VML to develop many of the local marketing and national retail efforts supporting domestic operations.

Craig started his marketing career in Los Angeles and spent six years in account management, primarily at J. Walter Thompson.

Outside of VML, Craig enjoys spending time with his family, including serving as a roadie for his son’s band and attending his children’s sporting events. He also enjoys fishing and water skiing.

As VML’s Chief Engagement Officer, Eric provides unmatched executive leadership to key client engagements and supports the proper deployment of VML capabilities on global business. Since joining VML in 1999, Eric has focused on the continuous improvement of VML’s solutions delivery and digital strategy road-mapping capability. This practice helps VML clients realize their multi-year, digital strategic vision, including aligned channel priorities enabled by the appropriate technology and organizational structure.

Eric has held lead engagement and strategic leadership roles with clients such as American Century Investments, Avid Technology, COPIA Interactive, Duke Energy, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft, SCI Corporation and Waste Management.

He is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute and possesses advanced skills in implementation planning, earned value and risk management.

He is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in graphic arts technology management.

In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time with his family. He is also an avid baseball fan, attending as many Kansas City Royals games as possible.

As the leader of VML’s Technology teams, Jeff is responsible for the governance of software development best practices, adoption of new internet technologies and the oversight of the VML software delivery model. 

He works with clients to identify how to best align the VML software development life cycle with the needs of each client’s operating environment. Moreover, Jeff consults on strategic and tactical approaches to deliver enterprise technology relating to content management, portal, custom web applications, and many other CRM platforms and technologies.

Jeff joined VML in 2003 from Siemens (Medical Solutions Division), where he was responsible for network administration, database development and intranet/extranet application development. 

He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and an MBA with a concentration in information technology.

Gard leads VML’s Insights group, which includes the Digital Insights, Research and Optimization & Analytics teams. It is one of the fastest-growing and vital practice groups at the agency. He joined VML in 2004.

Passionate about the newest technologies and digital delivery channels, Gard has helped establish VML as a leader in social network marketing.

He and his team direct SEER™, VML’s proprietary brand management tool — the most advanced online insights and activation resource available today.  SEER produces detailed brand and product ecosystems, identifying consumer-generated content and pinpointing web-based influencers, enabling client partners to immediately implement proactive strategies and tactics.

Gard has worked with several food and beverage and travel  brands, including Anheuser-Busch, Carlson, Gatorade, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Kellogg and Southwest Airlines.

Before joining VML, Gard founded two companies: Tribal DNA, a strategic consulting firm, and Propaganda3, an interactive production and consulting agency. 

Gard’s previous marketing experience includes serving as the Director of Client Service for Blairlake New Media and the Vice President of Account Planning and Research at Valentine Radford.

Gard is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a minor in English. He has spoken at several national conventions and conferences and has had articles published in numerous print and online publications.

Outside of VML, Gard spends his free time with family and is an avid fan of his son’s baseball team.

Todd is responsible for all technical direction and architecture decisions for VML. Since he joined the company in 2002, Todd’s priority has been to advance VML’s technical capabilities beyond strategic initiatives to provide improved technical products and services for VML clients. His 15-year tenure in multiple industries has afforded opportunities and insight to the manufacturing, airline and technology sectors.

Before being named Chief Information Officer, Todd spent two years leading the implementation of an enterprise web portal strategy for one of VML’s largest clients. He previously worked at eSecurityOnline, Ernst & Young LLP, where he was the Director of Application Development & Data Services. He managed all software engineering, quality assurance and data management initiatives.

Todd graduated from the College of the Ozarks in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in business.

He spends his free time with his wife and two children.

Scott is one of the founders of VML, and currently serves as the agency’s Chief Vision Officer. VML is the second agency he has grown, having helped take another Kansas City agency, Valentine Radford, from $14 million to $150 million as Executive Creative Director. 

A copywriter by trade, Scott’s work has been recognized in competitions across the U.S. and internationally. He is a technology junkie at heart and moved VML into the interactive arena at a very early date. He guided the “holistic communications” philosophy that has put VML at the forefront of the industry.  

Add to that technology insight his 30-plus years of experience in the creative processes of advertising, marketing and sales promotion, and you have the well-rounded expertise and knowledge necessary to understanding and growing a business in today’s connected economy.   

As founder and President of VML, he shaped the culture that has been the key to VML’s rapid success. He refers to it as a “commonsense culture,” based on a set of core values that are as much a way of living as they are a way of working. Horizontal management and an entrepreneurial environment were at the heart of VML culture long before they were industry buzzwords — and why VML has twice been named among the 25 best companies to work for in America by the Great Place to Work Institute.

He is an active community leader, currently serving on numerous boards as well as holding national and local roles with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Scott was the Kansas City Ad Club’s Advertising Professional of the Year in 2004 and JDRF International Volunteer of the Year in 2008.

He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in business administration.

Still a techno-junkie, Scott spends a shameful amount of time playing with new gadgets. That is when he’s not out riding his motorcycle, which he considers a big gadget that goes “vrooom.”

As an Executive Director, Doug is responsible for the oversight and management of key alliances and partnerships at VML. He joined VML in 2000. Doug is a partner and member of VML’s Executive Management team and sits on the VML Foundation’s board of directors.

In addition to leading select client relationships, he oversees the digital branding joint venture with Landor (a WPP company) in San Francisco, New York and London. Doug also works closely with the VML Seattle and VML London offices in an executive management capacity, providing a strong integration link with the Kansas City headquarters.   

During his nearly 12-year career with VML, he has developed experience with all forms of digital communications, from enterprise website redesign to ecommerce integration and software application development.

Before joining VML, Doug served as the General Manager for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. He has an extensive background in sports and sports marketing from his tenures with U.S. Soccer, the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee and adidas.

Doug earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Denison University.
 

An avid golfer and outdoor enthusiast, he spends most of his time away from VML with his wife and two children.

It takes impressive artistic energy and strong interpersonal skills to manage the time and talents of six VML creative teams from Kansas City to New York. As Chief Creative Officer, Debbi employs 18 years of industry experience and a steady balancing act of right-brain/left-brain management to successfully oversee over 150 creative talent and 25 user-experience professionals, including creative directors, branded content directors, copywriters, art directors, motion graphics designers, producers, user experience directors and experience architects. She joined VML in 2000.

Debbi is accomplished in both traditional and interactive creative development, earning a reputation for exceptional, on-strategy creative solutions rich in design and functionality. Her strong history of consumer-focused expertise and user-centric design has enabled Debbi to build a dynamic user-experience and creative team producing award-winning work, recognized by Forrester Research for outstanding web design and interactive marketing work.

Debbi’s creative leadership has been instrumental in differentiating VML from its competitors, helping VML to become one of the top digital agencies in the U.S. Recognition for outstanding VML creative output includes numerous awards and recognition by One Show Interactive, NY Festival, Webby, Web Marketing Association WebAwards, Internet Ad Competition (IAC) Awards, OMMA Awards, HOW Interactive Design Awards and numerous ADDY Awards for local, district and national recognition.

Before joining VML, Debbi worked at MMG Worldwide. She previously owned and operated an award-winning design firm. Her range of hands-on experience covers multiple industries, including CPG, hospitality, retail, health care and financial.

Debbi is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Debbi spends most of her time away from the office with her husband and two daughters; she is an avid reader and traveler.

As Director of Human Resources at VML, Kristi brings a passion for workplace excellence and employee satisfaction. Since 1996, Kristi has helped grow the company from 25 to more than 400 employees while maintaining the culture and environment that VML is known for. 

Kristi manages all aspects of human resources and organizational development, including recruiting, personnel development, orientation, training, intern management, benefits administration, processes and procedures development, and also oversees VML's internal operations team. During her tenure, VML has twice been recognized as one of the 50 Best Small and Medium Companies to Work for in America by The Great Places to Work Institute and the Society for Human Resources Management.

Kristi holds a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University.

In her free time, Kristi enjoys chauffeuring her kids to their activities, running, cycling and competing in duathlons.  She also serves as on-air talent for KCPT-TV 19, Kansas City Public Television. She maintains her K-State ties as a member of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications Advisory Council.  Additionally, Kristi sits on the board of Legacy Foundation for the Arts, Inc. and currently serves as the non profit’s vice president.   

As Chief Client Officer, Beth is responsible for ensuring VML’s portfolio of digital capabilities and services are leveraged across all clients. Beth works closely with Account Management leadership to ensure the right team is engaged on client business and we are leading digital strategy and successful execution within each engagement.

Beth has been with VML for more than nine years and has worked alongside each department lead on agency service offering evolution, company growth and achieving impressive results on the behalf of our client base — not to mention, supporting VML’s thought leadership initiatives, training curriculum and focus on driving the VML culture forward.

Before joining VML, Beth worked for Wunderman (NYC) and served on the client side for many years.

Beth is graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, marketing.

Outside of VML, Beth spends her free time with her husband and daughter.

As the Executive Director of Strategic Planning, Amy’s role combines torch bearing on behalf of the consumer with management consulting and counseling to client brand teams. Amy leads a team of seasoned and up-and-coming marketers who work across key areas of planning needs.

Amy joined VML in 1999 and is truly a veteran of digital marketing and enterprise website development, having worked in the space since 1995. She got her start in book publishing, working for Seth Godin Productions, and segued into the dot-com world of web content and the first generation of corporate and community websites at Wolff New Media/YPN.com, New York Now and Snap.com.

Amy’s experience includes developing digital marketing programs for audiences as varied as health-conscious women, deal-seeking moms, consumer audiophiles, baby boomers transitioning to retirement and business-to-business technology influencers and decision makers. In addition to advocating for the consumer, Amy leverages her extensive digital marketing experience to help client and agency teams bridge gaps between strategy and execution that can serve as barriers for a brand to truly deliver on behalf of consumers. Her colleagues like to say that she’s a whiteboarder at heart.

Amy is a graduate of Cornell College with a Bachelor of Special Studies in writing and American studies.

In her spare time, she practices her business case development expertise while slowly renovating a 100-year-old house with her husband.

As Executive Director of Channel Activation, Brian leads this integrated VML team to leverage VML capability and expertise across media, social, search, mobile and emerging media. This team is designed to bring clarity from digital chaos and understand a client’s best opportunities across a brand’s digital ecosystem to engage for impact — and continue to measure, build and optimize the client’s brand and business.

Brian joined VML in 1999 and helped lead one of the first major online media campaigns. His portfolio of past and present client partners includes BP/Castrol, Dell, Ernst & Young, Gatorade, H&R Block, Hallmark, HSBC, Intuit, Revlon, Southwest Airlines, State Farm Insurance, Warner Bros. and Western Union.

Brian has a passion for planning and strategy. He loves the pursuit of the big idea, and he finds it ironic that the faster technology moves, the less time people think they have.

Brian is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Away from the office, he spends most of his time with his wife and children . Occasionally Brian scares fish and fishermen alike with his rudimentary fly-fishing skills.

As Chief Integration Officer, Mike is responsible for overseeing VML's 30-person media and digital content distribution discipline, as well as the eCRM discipline, which is responsible for email marketing. Mike also provides strategic and account leadership for some of VML's largest global client partnerships including Colgate-Palmolive, YRC Worldwide, Giant Eagle (a regional supermarket in Pittsburgh) and Fannie Mae.

Mike's career at VML began in 1995, joining the company to launch, develop and optimize VML's fledgling web development and digital marketing business. At the time, the internet channel was over-promising returns, and, for the most part, under-delivering in the marketplace. The 10 years that followed shaped a new way of thinking at VML, one that emphasized the integration of marketing and technology, and helped VML grow into one of the world's leading digital marketing companies.

Mike brings an unyielding passion to his clients, guiding their success and growth in the digital channel by blending marketing and technology to deliver innovative, difference-making programs. His knowledge of the digital space and ability to provide actionable plans that fully utilize integrated marketing have helped lead the way in providing clients with forward-thinking solutions. Under Mike's leadership, teams have won a number of advertising, digital marketing and industry awards.

Prior to joining VML, Mike held several marketing and business development leadership positions in the software and technology marketplace.

Mike is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City with a degree in business studies.

In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, serving in the community and reading a good book.