VMLY&R Global CEO Jon Cook

Jon Cook, among other attributes, humbly lists being a “good listener” as one of the traits that has put him & keeps him in his current position overseeing 13,000 employees in 44 different countries as Global CEO of VMLY&R. VMLY&R creates “connected brands”. Jon joins the podcast and first describes the incredible growth he was part of the merging of VML & Y&R (Young & Rubicam) in 2018 becoming CEO of VMLY&R. Jon articulates how this all was launched after he first joined VML's Kansas City’s office in 1996, having a meteoric rise from Assistant Account Executive to President to CEO. In ’96 VML had 30 employees in KC. Jon grew that number to 3000 employees across six continents, collecting and multiple Advertising Age “A-List” honors.
Fast forward to 2018 – and big things happened. VMLY&R was formed: a global marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, digital, social media and mobile marketing, sales promotion, direct marketing, and brand identity consulting. Jon details how his duties on the job may change he works hard every week/day/hour to balance “three things”: VMLY&R’s Business, Work, and Culture. 
Jon shares VMLY&R’s verticals that among others include Technology, Healthcare, Automotive, and “Quick Service” (Fast Food). VMLY&R clients include Ford Motor Company, Intel, Google, Dell, Campbell’s, Colgate-Palmolive, AstraZeneca, Dell, Ford, Intel, Microsoft, Pfizer, Sherwin Williams, United Rentals, U.S. Navy, and Wendy’s.  Hear Jon give an example of “connected brand experience” work with longtime partner Ford Motor Company. VMLY&R oversees “customer experience” which include digital functions at Ford Motor Company such as the FordPass App to managing the advertising for Ford.  Between managing those two functions, branding and advertising, VMLY&R creates a connected brand experience impacting the consumer and their relationship with the product.
Jon shares how he’s still managing an ongoing two-year pandemic across not just different US Cities, but 44 different countries with varying virus effects & mandates. Jon explains that he can’t put in a unilateral rule down except “safety first”. Each office and city has it's own covid-specific conditiions and working decisions are made around each location. Diversity Equity & Inclusion is of major league importance to Jon & VMLY&R. Jon tells how it has been prior to “May of 2020 & George Floyd’s murder”. Jon continues to make VMLY&R strive everyday to make his organization a leader in DE&I. Jon explains his personal attachments and reasons behind his invovement in such causes as “Head For the Cure”, an organization which fights brain cancer, and the "National WW1 Museum & Memorial" in KC.
Jon is proud he is running a global firm out of his hometown of KC and how lucky he is to love hs company & its accomplishments so. He credits the people he's worked alongside (some for two decades) during his 26+ years at VML, now CEO of VMLY&R.  Finally, Jon discusses why he is hopeful 2022 involves more travel, and personal interfacing, but understands future conditions may be uncertain, but whatever they are VMLY&R plans to ride the wave well for their clients. 
VMLY&R is a subsidiary of WPP. Jon has led VMLY&R as global CEO since the agency was established in September 2018. The agency is a worldwide marketing force with more than 13,000 employees in 44 countries; principal office locations include Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney. Jon is a member of the WPP Executive Committee. https://www.vmlyr.com/