Advertising agencies have taken on greater importance in recent years, calling the shots for many Greater Hartford companies on how, where and when they will pitch their products or services. It’s also an industry undergoing much change with the digital revolution.
Two of the region’s biggest ad firms are led by women.
Kim Manning is CEO of Greater Hartford’s largest marketing agency, Cronin, which recorded $87 million in gross billings in 2018, according to HBJ’s Book of Lists. She recently spearheaded a major deal, as her firm was acquired by Southport marketing agency Horizon Group of North America. Manning will remain CEO of Cronin, which will also keep its name. She oversees all of the agency’s strategic and brand planning initiatives.
Jill Adams is CEO of Adams & Knight, the second-largest ad firm in Greater Hartford, which recorded $81.5 million in gross billings in 2018, according to HBJ’s Book of Lists. For about 30 years, her firm has provided branding, advertising, PR, digital marketing and social media services to myriad industries and has been nationally recognized by the American Marketing Association, Public Relations Society of America, Web Marketing Association and many others. With a master’s degree from Boston University, Adams worked for several other agencies and corporations before starting her own business.