Former FCB Vets Launch Magic Camp, Agency Built for the Modern Marketer
By The Chicago Egotist / /
FCB alums Holly Willis and Mandi Bright, have teamed together to launch Magic Camp, a full-service advertising agency built for the modern marketer that is setting a bold tone from the outset by completely redefining how an advertising agency is structured.
Magic Camp emerges with a clear vision led by Holly Willis, aiming to empower marketers and organizations to create the most meaningful and successful brands. Willis is committed to delivering unparalleled work and client service while fostering an exceptional & inclusive work environment. She envisions a collaborative and transparent space where ideas flow freely, pushing creative boundaries while delivering strategically groundbreaking solutions for clients without the current pain points of the existing agency-client relationship model.
“Our industry is at an inflection point, especially looking at emerging technologies and how that will continue to disrupt what we do. We have the opportunity to look at our industry with fresh creative eyes and completely reimagine it or compete within the existing model which we think is already deeply flawed,” said Willis.
“We started with what our industry tells our clients all the time, put your consumer first, not only in your brand but in your business. Magic Camp exists for one group only – the modern marketer,” said Willis. “We offer clear product solutions with transparent costs. Our strategy involves reevaluating the internal work processes, product innovation roadmaps, the approach to recruit and retain talent, and most importantly, how an agency works with its clients, all while maintaining a really clear focus on who we are and why we exist.”
Prior to founding Magic Camp, Willis served as Head of Accounts at The Escape Pod, and Managing Director at FCB, along with a tenure at 360i (now Dentsu Creative) and 21st Century Fox. She has worked on a range of clients including fortune 500 companies to independently owned brands and startups.
Despite a successful career with some of the biggest agencies and brands, Mandi Bright couldn’t resist the opportunity to start from scratch and partner with Willis as the Chief Creative Officer. “For our clients, creativity needs to deliver business results. The issue is that the current agency/client model puts a lot of the onus on the clients to problem solve, which is why they hired an agency in the first place. In reality, you’ll never have the perfect set of variables to start from. The ability to act quickly and strategically with existing variables is the missing part of creative success. For us, creativity is not just about the work, but in our approach, processes and the way we build our teams. At Magic Camp, we deeply believe that creativity is the best growth accelerator.” Prior to Magic Camp, Bright was the VP, Group Creative Director at The Mars Agency and FCB and an Art Director at Leo Burnett.
Magic Camp truly embodies its principles, initiating a four-day work week and eventual sabbaticals, to ensure the team maintains passion for both their professional and personal lives. This commitment extends to clear growth opportunities and an ongoing dedication to cultivating the optimal work environment necessary to achieve these exceptional results.
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