As a “stress reliever,” marketing-promotions strategist Jay Farrell coaches the Strikers, an Oak Park-River Forest team of 14-year-old boys, in the Northern Illinois Soccer League.
Wednesday, Farrell was officially anointed with a new “coaching” post with more responsibilities in the corporate world, becoming chairman-president of Communicator, the new banner of Davidson Marketing, a marketing services-promotions firm here. In this position, he also heads up four other U.S. firms and a unit in London, all carrying the Communicator name or known as a Communicator company.
More Top Picks Best Swivel Car Seat Cushions For Seniors
The parent Lighthouse Global Network–a new designation as of last November–is owned by privately held Chicago-based Lighthouse Holdings, which has pulled off 16 acquisitions in the last 18 months, all in marketing-communications or related businesses–with more in the offing.
Communicator already existed as a name–an integrated direct marketing-promotions firm in London, acquired last year. Under a structural revamp of Lighthouse Global Network, it now has three global units–LGN Design & Development, LGN Business Communications and LGN Marketing Services or what’s being called the Communicator Group as Lighthouse seeks to build a higher profile and international portfolio.
“[The Communicator Group] gives us more integrated competencies,” says Farrell, who in 1982 joined Davidson, a firm founded 21 years ago. Kraft Foods is one of Communicator’s clients here, a relationship dating back 18 years.
Besides the former Davidson Marketing unit at 54 W. Hubbard, other Communicator firms with various Chicago area locations include Communicator/e, Communicator/Sports & Entertainment and Communicator/Merchandise.
Farrell, joined by his boss, Julian Hanson-Smith, the London-based chief operating officer of Lighthouse Global Network, for a meeting here, says Communicator is looking for a presence in the New York market, increasing the current seven domestic offices.
Lighthouse Global Network’s annual revenues/fees top $150 million, including those pushing $30 million at the Communicator Group.
Another `mike’ for Ditka: You can catch Mike Ditka this fall on the CBS NFL Today show–the ex-New Orleans Saints coach having signed a three-year pact reportedly for $450,000 annually–but more visibility on the airwaves may be in the offing. A national radio show, “not necessarily on CBS,” is a possibility, Ditka said at his restaurant, now called Mike Ditka’s (a recent changeover from Iron Mike’s Grille), site of a recent wine tasting sponsored by Seagram Chateau & Estate Wine Companies (annual sales of $250 million-plus) and the American Institute of Wine & Food, Chicago chapter. Other Ditka restaurants are in New Orleans and Naples, Fla. (his winter digs), in which Ditka and private investors have equity. Carlucci Hospitality Group has equity in the Chicago and New Orleans restaurants. Former Bear Ditka still is eyeing Pittsburgh and Dallas as expansion markets, but Las Vegas has emerged as the No. 1 priority, though there’s nothing concrete at this time.
– Former Chicagoan Michael J. Kelly is leaving as the Manhattan-based publisher of Time Inc.’s Entertainment Weekly to become a principal of Growth Capital Partners, a venture capital firm there specializing in Internet investments. Named new publisher was associate publisher David Morris. Other personnel: John Minnec was promoted to senior VP, director of business development, and Maribeth Pyne became executive VP, operations, both at Draft Worldwide Chicago.
– Archdiocese of Chicago Thursday breaks an offbeat new media campaign, initially with 15-second TV spots, encouraging priesthood as a vocation. This DDB Chicago-created pro-bono effort, also including newspaper and out-of-home advertising, carries a “Consider the Priesthood” tagline with copy such as “Maximize your potential. Minimize your wardrobe”; “If you’re waiting for a sign from God, this is it”; and “Yes, you will combat evil. No, you won’t get to wear a cape.”
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings to John J. Mullins, 33 (E.J. Mullins Co.); Brian D. White, 30 (Stark Carpet); Danielle Skoda Benson, 24; Colleen M. Lafontaine, 34; Kathy Manista, 50 (Tribune); Dirk Claussen, 45; and Suzanne R. Shevitz, 43 (IFMA).