Aaron Starkman is a Canadian advertising executive who is currently the Global Chief Creative Officer at Rethink.[1] Recognized globally for his creativity and leadership, Starkman has been named Creative Leader of the Year by Campaign Magazine[2] and has been ranked among the top five Chief Creative Officers in the world by Ad Age.[3] In 2019, Ad Age recognized Starkman as one of its 100 most fascinating people in marketing, media and culture in its Creative 100 List.[4] Starkman has also been listed on Campaign Magazine's prestigious 40 Over 40 list.[5]
Early life
Starkman was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He graduated from York University where he studied psychology. While initially interested in pursuing law, after a chance encounter with an acquaintance working in law before writing his LSATs, Starkman decided to deviate from law and explore a career in advertising.[6]
Career
Starkman began his advertising career at Young and Rubicam as a copywriter.[7]
In 2002, Starkman joined Zig (acquired by Crispin Porter + Bogusky in July 2010[8]), where he was appointed as Chief Creative Officer in 2010[9]. Following Zig’s acquisition by Crispin Porter + Bogusky in 2010, Starkman was named Executive Creative Director of Crispin Porter and Bogusky Canada.[10]
Starkman helped the agency win a number of prestigious accolades, including the Cannes Lion Film Gold for Vim 'Prison Visitor' 2004,[11] the Cannes Lions Media Gold for Scream TV 2007,[12] and the Cannes Lion Radio Gold for IKEA 'Low Voices' in 2008.[13]
In 2012, Starkman left Crispin Porter + Bogusky Canada and joined Rethink as Creative Director and Partner.[14] In November 2020 he was named National Chief Creative Officer,[15] which was followed by his appointment to Rethink’s Global Chief Creative Officer in December 2021.[16]
Under his direction as Chief Creative Officer, Rethink has been recognized for numerous prestigious advertising accolades and awards, including:
- Ad Age A-List Creative Agency of the Year 2021[17] and 2023[18]
- Effie Awards Agency of the Year 2022
- Campaign Magazine Global Independent Agency of the Year 2022[19]
- One Show #2 Independent Agency of the Year 2023[20]
- Cannes #2 Independent Agency of the Year 2023[21]
- Cannes #3 Independent Agency of the Year 2020/2021[22] and 2022[23]
- Strategy Magazine Agency of the Year for five consecutive years (2019,[24] 2020,[25] 2021,[26] 2022,[27] 2023[28]
Aaron frequently serves as a judge for advertising award shows including Cannes, the Clios and the One Show.
Notable works
In the course of his time at Crispin Porter + Bogusky Canada (formerly Zig), Aaron was a major contributor to the highly awarded Vim ‘Prison Visitor’[29] and IKEA ‘Low Voices’[30] advertising campaigns.
In his time at Rethink, Aaron has been a major contributor to some of the agency’s most decorated campaigns, including the Molson Canadian Global Beer Fridge,[31] ‘Unburnable Book’ for Penguin Random House,[32] the Heinz ‘Draw Ketchup’ campaign,[33] the Heinz ‘Ketchup Fraud’ campaign,[34] and ‘Ability Signs’ for Decathlon Canada.[35]
It's Only Fucking Advertising podcast
In 2018, Starkman launched the advertising podcast It’s Only Fucking Advertising alongside Creative Director or Vapor RMW Ted Rosnick.[36] Starkman hosts and interviews notable advertising figures from around the globe. Guests of the podcast have included Alex Bogusky, Fernando Machado, Judy John and Ari Merkin.[37]
Personal life
Starkman resides in Toronto, Ontario with his wife, three children, and dogs Jabba and Chewy. He is an avid Buffalo Bills fan.
References
- ^ https://lbbonline.com/news/honesty-is-a-gift-of-clarity-aaron-starkman-on-the-meteoric-rise-of-rethink
- ^ https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/creative-leader-year-2021-aaron-starkman/1754985
- ^ https://adage.com/article/special-report-agency-list-creativity-awards/all-finalists-ad-ages-2022-creativity-awards/2408256
- ^ https://www.adweek.com/creativity/adweek-creative-100-2019/
- ^ https://www.campaignlive.com/article/meet-2022-campaign-us-40-40-honorees/1795005
- ^ https://musebycl.io/2-minutes/2-minutes-aaron-starkman-global-cco-rethink
- ^ https://www.appliedartsmag.com/blog/shoulders-to-stand-on-a17636/
- ^ http://marketingmag.ca/news/agency-news/goodbye-zig-hello-crispin-porter-bogusky-canada-3790
- ^ https://www.shots.net/news/view/66163-zig-elevates-aaron-starkman
- ^ https://www.adweek.com/agencyspy/cpb-takes-over-canada/
- ^ http://marketingmag.ca/advertising/zigs-low-voice-wins-radio-gold-16263/
- ^ http://marketingmag.ca/advertising/zigs-low-voice-wins-radio-gold-16263/
- ^ http://marketingmag.ca/advertising/zigs-low-voice-wins-radio-gold-16263/
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2012/01/05/rethink-hires-aaron-starkman-as-partner-and-cd/
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2020/11/19/rethink-solidifies-its-succession-plan-with-new-leadership-team/
- ^ https://www.lbbonline.com/news/rethink-names-mike-dubrick-chief-creative-officer-toronto
- ^ https://adage.com/article/special-report-agency-list/rethinks-ideas-were-welcome-antidote-heaviness-covid-weary-world/2339796
- ^ https://adage.com/article/special-report-agency-list-creativity-awards/best-creative-agency-2023-rethink/2475126
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2022/05/11/rethink-zulu-alpha-kilo-win-at-campaigns-global-agency-of-the-year/
- ^ https://www.oneclub.org/awards/theoneshow/-independantagency/Rethink/2023/all/all
- ^ https://www.canneslions.com/news/final-lion-winners-announced-at-the-cannes-lions-international-festival
- ^ https://www.canneslions.com/news/cll-2021-winners-day-5
- ^ https://icomagencies.com/about/news/rethink-is-recognized-as-the-3-global-independent-agency-network-in-cannes
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2019/10/30/rethink-is-the-2019-agency-of-the-year/
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2020/11/13/and-the-2020-agency-of-the-year-winners-are/
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2023/11/02/rethink-takes-home-agency-of-the-year-gold/
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2022/11/02/2022-agency-of-the-year-gold-rethink-one-agency-so-many-awards/
- ^ https://strategyonline.ca/2023/11/02/rethink-takes-home-agency-of-the-year-gold/
- ^ http://marketingmag.ca/brands/best-of-decade-contender-vims-prison-visitor-3043/
- ^ http://marketingmag.ca/advertising/zigs-low-voice-wins-radio-gold-16263/
- ^ https://clios.com/awards/winner/public-relations/passport-beer-fridge-3369
- ^ https://clios.com/awards/winner/design/penguin-random-house/the-unburnable-book-135945
- ^ https://musebycl.io/advertising/asked-draw-ketchup-people-around-world-drew-heinz
- ^ https://www.thedrum.com/news/2023/03/27/heinz-highlights-ketchup-fraud-playful-print-campaign
- ^ https://clios.com/sports/winner/design/decathlon-canada/ability-signs-123263
- ^ https://the-message.ca/2019/09/24/iofa-back-for-season-two-with-eric-kallman/
- ^ https://podtail.com/en/podcast/iofa-with-aaron-starkman/