Danny Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, The Martin Agency

Danny Robinson’s career is a testament to outside-the-box thinking. After all, it’s not common to find a chief executive officer who was previously a chief creative officer who was previously a chief client officer who never saw himself in any of these roles. Danny’s blend of creative and business acumen leads to a big-picture perspective that results in breakthrough ideas. As CCO, he helped lead the agency to back-to-back Adweek Agency of Year wins in 2020 and 2021, Ad Age’s 2023 Agency of the Year and #5 on the A-List in 2024, and a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies List for 2023 and 2024.

Over the course of his three-year tenure as CCO, he oversaw work for some of the world’s most beloved brands including UPS, GEICO, CarMax, DoorDash and OREO. As a passionate writer and storyteller, Danny was the author of Lil’ Ruby Riding Hood for The Martin Agency’s IP venture “Now Upon a Time,” which reimagines classic fairy tales with modern, empowering messaging. His story, adapted into the short animated film Lil’ Ruby, won several awards including Outstanding Short Form (Animated) at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards and Best Writing at the Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival.

Remember when Oprah gave away 276 Pontiac G6s? So does Danny. He was a big part of that history-making brand integration as the chief creative officer at Vigilante, an ad agency he co-founded. While at Vigilante, Danny was the creative leader and writer behind award-winning campaigns for national brands including Sprint, Major League Baseball, Heineken and Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Danny is a Hampton University grad with an MBA from Atlanta University, an accomplished artist, a former DJ and standup comic, and was even once voted by the Stand Up NY Comedy Club as “one of the funniest men in advertising.”