Will Benham
wmbenham@gmail.com
(678) 938-7528
LinkedIn
Hi, I’m an Executive Creative Director who unlocks the full potential of brands, companies, and culture with ideas people want to talk about and share. Oh, and I love mentoring and teaching others how to do it, too.
EVP, Executive Creative Director // Chemistry (March 2020 - Present)
We've grown from a creative department of 8 to a Small Agency of the Year Winner to #6 on the AdAge A-List (and we still have our soul). Here's some of what we've done so far:
Increased agency revenue 266%, creative department headcount 300%, and raised the agency’s reputation to a national level.
Repositioned and rebranded the agency with refreshed pitch decks, swag, culture documents, and how-to guides.
Rebuilt agency briefing process from ground up in partnership with account and strategy leads.
Responsible for key new business wins including:
- Netflix (Year-long Reality Romance category campaign and two title-specific campaigns)
- Beyond Meat (Beyond Steak Launch Campaign and New Year Campaign)
- NBA x MLB x NHL Responsible Gambling Campaign
- Krystal - AOR
Some Awards along the way
2023 AdAge A-List
2023 CampaignUS Independent Agency of the Year Finalists
2022 AdWeek MidSized Agency of the Year Finalists
2021 Ad Age Small Agency of the Year - Gold
2021 Fast Company World Changing Ideas
Freelance Copywriter and Creative Director (July 2019 - March 2020)
Helping creative departments and brands with really fun work and a healthy helping of mentorship at places like Cassanova//McCann, Chemistry, Fitzco, Humanaut and more.
Fitzco // McCann
Creative Director // March 2019 - July 2019
Associate Creative Director // October 2017 - February 2019
Senior Copywriter // July 2015 - September 2017
Concepting for Coke, Navy Federal Credit Union, Carrabba's, New Business, and more.
CoFounder/CoLeader of the Misfitz - Fitzco’s internship program
Started from nothing to create a year-round creative internship program complete with dedicated mentors, career advice, and real-world experience. We converted four Misfitz into full-time employees and placed our graduates at agencies like Wieden-Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein and Partners, Arts and Letters, Mekanism, and plenty of other no-good, intern-thieving agencies.
They used to call this a Copy Lead
Helped interns, juniors, and new hires find their feet at Fitzco with how to concept booklets, idea writeup packets, script templates, and deep chats about copywriting.
Volunteer with our DEI team: I was elected head of women’s diversity. My only act as head of women’s diversity was to find a woman to be head of women’s diversity.
Say the uncomfortable things - You know how there’s always one person who says what everyone else is thinking, but doesn’t want to say out loud? That’s me.
The Creative Circus
Instructor // September 2015 - December 2018
Teaching the next generation how to do everything I do from headlines to campaigns to activations. And providing moral support as they try to break in to their first job in the industry.
Muhtayzik-Hoffer
Freelance Senior Copywriter // May 2015 - June 2015
Netflix, Audi, and advanced living out of a suitcase.
EVB
Senior Copywriter // March 2014 - May 2015
Enjoyed the perks of living in Colorado and made sweet ads for JCPenney, MiO, Maxwell House, Gevalia, Ebates.com and more.
+ AdAge A-List Agency to Watch
JWT Atlanta
Copywriter // March 2013 - March 2014
Vinegar based creativity applied liberally to SCANA Energy, Pennzoil Motor Oils, Jiffy Lube, Shell Fuel, Fuel Rewards Network, Twin Peaks, Nokia and New Business.
+ One of ten creatives across the global network selected for the Shell Global Creative Collision in 2013.
+ Part of the team that concepted and presented the winning Twin Peaks pitch.
Victors & Spoils
Freelance Copywriter // February 2013
Top secret stuff. If I told you any more, I'd have to kill you. (Unless you implicitly understood that means campaign concepting for a new business pitch)
Crispin, Porter + Bogusky
Copywriter // September 2012 - February 2013
Thinking thoughts and writing words for Bing, Triscuit, Kraft Mac and Cheese, Dominos, Jell-O, and Windows Phone.
Copywriter Intern // June 2012 - August 2012
Abused a well-stocked employee kitchen, and made magic for Jell-O, Kraft Mac and Cheese, Bing, and a few agency side-projects.
TTI North America // June 2009 - September 2010
Field Sales Rep for Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi – August 2009 - September 2010
Stocked shelves at Home Depot and sold power tools to the general public.
+ Placed in the top 25% of sales reps while rocking the most stressful sales territory in the nation.
Education
Creative Circus // 2010 - 2012
Copywriting Program
Heard a lot of jokes about clown college.
Clemson University // 2005 - 2009
BS in Marketing; Minor in Advertising
Lots of fun. Little learning.