August Jackson, a leading brand communications agency, announced today the selection of two brand marketing experts for key senior leadership hires, effective immediately. Industry veteran, Laura Shuler has been named the agency's Chief Executive Officer. She will succeed Frank Andrews, who founded August Jackson in 2003 and built the company into a market leader in the brand experience industry, as he moves into the role of Chairman. In addition, Robin Reif has been named Executive Vice President, Client Engagement.

"Laura's experience and reputation in this industry are unmatched. She is an exceptional leader who will take the agency to the next level," said Andrews.

Shuler brings nearly three decades of brand marketing experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director for Brand Engagement at global firm Landor, where she helped clients build internal and external brand communities. Previously, she was U.S. President of experiential marketing agency Jack Morton Worldwide. Shuler played a critical role in distinguishing the Jack Morton brand globally and enhancing offerings that shaped its success. Her numerous contributions had an industry-wide impact and earned her a spot on Ad Age's "Women to Watch" list.

"I see tremendous growth opportunities for August Jackson in helping companies and brands engage their most important communities," said Shuler. "We have a powerful combination of strategic, creative and executional capabilities that are critical for designing campaigns and events that drive brand advocacy."

Robin Reif, reporting to Shuler, will lead the account discipline and direct new business strategy and execution across the agency. Reif comes to August Jackson with strong expertise as a business developer, client service executive, and brand experience strategist. Most recently, she led the consultancy she founded in 2012, providing organizations with strategy and creative execution of employee engagement campaigns, thought leader conferences, event marketing programs and culture change initiatives. Prior to this role, Reif was Senior Vice President, Group Account Director at Jack Morton Worldwide for 24 years. In this position, Reif built and nurtured the largest client portfolio in the company, leading longstanding Fortune 100 relationships across various sectors.

"The key to Robin's success is her ability to form exceptional, trusted relationships with her clients. These are rooted in deep insight into her clients' business and brand challenges and her ability to convert those insights into practical solutions," Andrews said. "She gets to the heart of clients' needs and positions account teams to drive solutions that have real impact on the business."

Both Shuler and Reif will be based in New York City.

ABOUT AUGUST JACKSON

August Jackson is a world-class communications agency whose depth and breadth of strategic, creative and production capabilities create true connections between dynamic businesses, brands and their unique audiences. We design strategic messaging and creative content that empowers audiences to realize a shared vision while drawing individuals together through shared experience. Delivering across live events, experiential marketing, internal/external campaigns and media production, our Audience First mantra lives at the heart of every project, because we know a message can only go as far as its audience is willing to take it.