With a career that spans four decades, Joe Phelps, CEO and founder of The Phelps Group (www.thephelpsgroup.com), a leading integrated marketing communications (IMC) agency, has been honored as one of the top 30 innovators of 2011 by The Internationalist magazine.
“Joe always comes with new ideas that challenge traditional thinking. The way he has organized and built his successful agency, as documented in his book, ‘Pyramids are Tombs,’ is testimony to his innovative approach,†said Gary Burandt, president of ICOM, one of the world’s largest networks of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies serving 50+ countries.
Phelps is one of the pioneers of integrated marketing communications. He has made it work in reality by abolishing all agency departments and organizing around the client in cross-functional teams. The Phelps Group is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the agency’s success is partly due to his ongoing commitment to finding the right people, resources and systems needed to serve clients today — working together in a full-feedback creative environment.
Nominated by their colleagues, the 2011 Innovators are champions of multinational strategy, leaders in ground-breaking communications, individuals who think about advertising in new ways, and advocates of responsible brand-building. This marks the publication’s six year of celebrating marketing leaders from around the globe.
About The Phelps Group:
Based in Santa Monica, CA, The Phelps Group is one of the largest independent marketing communications agencies on the West Coast and is recognized as one of L.A.’s “Best Places to Work.†Due to its organizational model, the company is recognized for its ability to truly integrate marketing strategies, public relations, on- and off-line advertising, promotions and Hispanic communications. Its clients, most of whom are leaders in their industries, include Panasonic, City of Hope, Dunn-Edwards Paints, Tahiti Tourisme, zpizza, Monrovia Nursery, Public Storage and Whole Foods Market.
