Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett: Generation change in the management team

In the future, the management will consist of long-time employees Andy Stäheli, Peter Brönnimann, Rolf Zimmermann (Managing Director) and Michael Waeber (CFO). They have contributed significantly to the agency's success in recent years. In addition, Michael Gassler, previously Managing Partner at Ruf Lanz, will complete the team as second Managing Director from September.

Spillmann and Felser are withdrawing from the operational business. They will remain associated with the agency as board members and will continue to work for clients on strategic and conceptual mandates. "In the future, we will again have more time for developing strategies and creative concepts," Martin Spillmann and Peter Felser say in unison.

The agency continues to focus on the core competence of developing and communicating strong brand ideas. Without a central idea, which is based on a sound understanding of the relationship between people and brand, a brand cannot be managed successfully in the long term. "The Leo Burnett philosophy coincides 100% with our view of promising communication," says new CEO Andy Stäheli. "We want to continue to shape the market with popular and efficient campaigns in the future - including digital and social media solutions, which are part of the classic offering for us today," Brönnimann adds of the agency's ambitions. Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett sees the leading minds as a guarantee for strategically and creatively sound performance and continuity. "Making outstanding creative advertising for clients who really want it, and having fun together in the process," remains the unifying motivation of the management team.

When the Swiss partners Spillmann, Felser, Brönnimann, Zimmermann and Waeber founded the agency almost 10 years ago, the choice of international partner was well considered. The decisive factor in choosing Leo Burnett was the shared ambition regarding the creative product. In fact, in recent years, few other agency groups have paid as much attention to the creative product as Leo Burnett. "At the time the agency was founded, it was already the goal and concept that the international partner Leo Burnett should become one hundred percent owner after the local agency had been set up and established," confirms Martin Spillmann. "Andy Stäheli and Peter Brönnimann are about the same age today as Martin and I were ten years ago. I am convinced that this generational change will have a positive impact on practical work and that Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett will continue to shape the market with efficient and creative campaigns in the future," says Felser.

On Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett
 
"Making outstanding advertising for clients who really want it, and having fun together in the process." This was the common motivation of the Swiss agency founders Martin Spillmann, Peter Felser, Rolf Zimmermann, Peter Brönnimann and Michael Waeber when they founded the agency in 2002. Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett has grown continuously since its founding and generates gross operating revenues of CHF 18.9 million (2010) with 75 employees. This makes the agency one of the most important in the Swiss market. It is the only agency to rank among the top 3 in all rankings - in terms of creativity as well as efficiency, size and reputation. Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett distinguishes itself through clever, cross-media campaigns based on a strong brand idea. Campaigns for Mammut (Mary Woodbridge), Switzerland Tourism (Felsenputzer) or the "Campaign of the Year 2010" for Sunrise (SMS) not only win national and international creative awards, but also enjoy high popularity among broad sections of the population. Clients include well-known brands such as ABB, Beldona, Bio-Suisse, Butter, Emmentaler, Fleurop, Cantonal Banks, Lindt, Migros, Switzerland Tourism, Suva, Swiss Life, Sympany, Tages-Anzeiger and Volvo.

A Interview with Peter Felser and Martin Spillmann can be found in the print edition of July 8.