Laura Rowan // CSO, Managing Partner Anomaly

I’m an awarded executive strategist with proven results in building and marketing global brands and businesses with 15 years experience. I thrive on taking legacy brands into the future, returning icons to their rightful place in culture and helping modern businesses build their strategic foundations and north star. As a creative agency CSO, I’m a core member of the agency leadership team, partnering with the CCO’s and CEO. I’m responsible for the development and effectiveness of the strategy department, as well as organic agency growth, new business retention and agency culture. I oversee a department of brand, comms, social, content, data and innovation strategists and currently work across both the New York and Toronto offices.

Currently, I’m the co-chair of the Anomaly LGBTQ+ champions group which is focused on driving inclusivity and visibility of the community both internally, as well as helping our client partners meaningfully connect to the community. Additionally, I’m actively involved in internal training and mentoring of Anomaly talent, client training, as well as being a guest lecturer at Miami Ad School. I also presented the future of advertising new models at the 4A’s conference in 2018 after my transformative strategic leadership on the Jolly Rancher campaign that was awarded a Gold Effectiveness, Jay Chiat and APG finalist award due to its business and brand success.

Prior to Anomaly I was a VP Strategic Planner at Grey. Before Grey, I was earning my Masters in Communication at Boston University while studying and working in London. I went to undergrad at Penn State. I’m from the burbs of Philly and lived in New York City for nearly 15 years. My Australian wife is a writer and constantly keeps me (and my strategic ideas) on my toes.

Beliefs

I passionately believe that servant leadership is the most important practice, knowledge is power and being informed is more impactful than simply being curious. I also believe that empathy is everything and that insights must incite something transformational and creative. I’d also add that great work must be effective and can only get there through a little chaos and a lot of context. Difficult conversations are growth. Listening is the key to understanding. Conviction and logic are the most important factors in a persuasive argument. And no matter how old you get, you should always do work that makes your parents proud.

Capabilities

Brand Positioning // Global Brand Strategy // Brand & Creative Strategy // Go-to-Market & Communications Strategy // Social, Digital & Content Strategy // New Product Development & Innovation Strategy // VBI & Design Strategy // Research & Moderation // Consumer Segmentation & Data Analysis // Writing & Deck Building // Public Speaking

Category Experience

CPG, Food & Beverage, Technology, Retail, Automotive, Power Sports, Health & Wellness, Gaming, Entertainment, Confectionary, Sports

Brand Experience

AB InBev (Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, Stella, Mill Street) // P&G (Downy, Febreze, Pringles) // BRP (Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Can-Am) // The Hershey Company (Reese’s, Hershey’s, Jolly Rancher, Kit Kat, Pay Day, Brookside, Oh Henry! ) // Kraft Heinz // Unilever // NBC Universal // Google // YouTube // dosist // Panera // Vroom // ecobee // Dairy Queen // GSK // Sport Chek // Darden (…to name a few).

Awards

Effies, Jay Chiat, Cannes, Emmy’s, APG, Webby’s, One Show, D&AD, Super Bowl Ad Winner 3 years in a row

Work Experience

Anomaly Toronto // Chief Strategy Officer, Managing Partner // April 2019 - Present

Anomaly New York // Group Strategy Director // April 2015 - March 2018

Anomaly New York // Global Strategy Director // April 2013 - March 2015

Grey New York // VP, Brand Planner // February 2009 - March 2013

Grey New York // Senior Brand Planner // April 2007 - January 2009

Grey New York // Account Manager // February 2006 - March 2007

CDP-Travisully (Dentsu) London // Intern // 2005