Two key milestones stand out amid Lippe Taylor’s stellar year to date: their acquisition of Cheer Partners (a company that specializes in DEI consulting) and the re-launch of their sister agency, twelvenote (a new agency brand with complementary capabilities helmed by longtime leader Tracy Naden). The NYC-based agency also opened up a new Los Angeles office and laid the groundwork for offices to come in Chicago, Atlanta and Minneapolis (all of which now have half a dozen people on the ground). Lippe Taylor has also been hard at work on its own innovations, including the publishing of Friction Fatigue, a book that describes the agency’s approach to work and many insights from their own case studies (the book became #2 on the WSJ best-selling business books list this summer). Following the themes outlined in the book, Lippe Taylor introduced inCONCERT, a novel way of co-producing branded content with media companies. On the measurement side, they debuted a landmark study that is being published in a peer-reviewed academic journal, and debuted a redeveloped software stack to support their award-winning Hypatia measurement platform. Finally, their expanded digital and creative teams are paying off: through its growing content studio, the agency had two clients take their digital videos and turn them into television commercials.
Leadership team:
Maureen Lippe, Chairman
Paul Dyer, Chief Executive Officer
Notable long-term clients:
Nestle, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Citigroup, Abbvie, Spectrum, Kao, Godiva, Sanofi, P&G, Edgewell, and Galderma
New client wins:
Pinterest, Simply Good Foods, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Redesign Health, Impel Neuropharma, Clarus Therapeutics, and ConAgra
How is the agency advancing DEI in the industry?
“Lippe Taylor has created a number of Employee Resource Groups, [which are] employee-led groups that aim to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace aligned with Lippe Taylor Group’s mission, vision and values. More than a third of our employees participate in at least one ERG. Every staff meeting features a DEI discussion, and we offer DEI-based trainings every month to raise sensitivity and allyship among employees. We implemented processes to evaluate influencer talent equitably, including a proprietary approach to "blind" casting based on data. Through our Black ERG, known as The Inkwell, we introduced the first and only Juneteenth celebration at this year's Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity offering Black American professionals the opportunity to still celebrate the holiday abroad as well as brands and business leaders who identify as allies, to learn and understand the holiday better.”
CIIC PR started the year off strong, on the heels of ringing in its 25th anniversary with a complete corporate rebranding campaign, new website, redesigned logo and updated company aesthetic. They may have a fresh new look, but this year saw the same powerful work the travel and hospitality PR agency is known for. The team has begun incorporating marketing and paid advertising practices alongside their public relations strategies, and digital ads are now a key part of efforts for CIIC’s food and beverage portfolio. Another key growth area: influencer marketing. CIIC has managed special projects specifically focused on influencer relations for segments including healthcare, beauty and alternative wellness. B2B accounts and clients in the food and beverage space have also contributed to their influencer database, from podcasters and LinkedIn professionals to TikTokers and tastemakers. Expect to see the agency continue to strengthen their expertise in influencer relations by honing in on niche and regional influencers in national and international markets, including Mexico and Canada.
Leadership team:
Carolyn Izzo-Feldman, Founder & CEO
Notable long-term clients:
Los Cabos Tourism Board, Quintana Roo Tourism Board, Mexico Grand Hotels, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Palladium Hotel Group
New client wins:
BGPL USA, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, Jovē, Nevis Tourism Authority, RDB Hospitality, Stadaconé, voco Times Square South, an IHG Hotel
How are you innovating and moving the industry forward?
“Beginning with the agency’s first account, the destination of Acapulco, CIIC has developed a major presence in the country and established a speciality for Mexico’s top destinations and hotel groups, including Los Cabos, Mexico Grand Hotels, Quintana Roo Tourism Board, Palladium Hotel Group, Vivo Resorts and Mundo Imperial Entertainment & Hospitality, to name just a few. This expertise has expanded into Latin America and the Caribbean, making CIIC a recognized communications leader in these regions as well. The agency has similarly expanded into Europe recently with such international clients as top French wine producer BGPL USA and the luxurious BLESS Madrid Hotel. With over 25 years in business, the pandemic was not the agency’s first time dealing with a total industry shift. Continuing our passion for our home of New York – and the global hospitality community – CIIC has represented pro-bono clients like Edward Hopper House, local organizations, Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA), and International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA). Accounts like these allow CIIC to pursue passion projects and continue supporting the arts, culture and industries we believe in. By establishing a CIIC office in Miami in the 2010s, our founder Carolyn Izzo-Feldman valued the importance of this market and expanded the agency’s diversity, expanding our team and growing the portfolio to include regional clientele and foreseeing the growth of the city as a major market for upcoming trends.”
