Welcome to the first annual 500 under 500, a list of 500 people in advertising under 500 years old. They’re storytellers, disrupters, visionaries and dreamers – but most importantly, they have yet to turn 500 – so they’re just getting started.
Misell is a missile around the office, but only metaphorically because she hasn’t killed anybody. Except with kindness.
PATRICK COFFEE Writer/Editor, AgencySpy
We can’t make it past 11 AM without Coffee.
ANDREAS DAHLQVIST Chief Creative Officer, Grey New York
They say Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, but we’re pretty sure this guy’s from Sweden.
ALFRED ERICKSON Co-Founder, McCann Erickson
Got his name on the door by discovering a compromising pic of H.K. Mccann and subsequently blackmailing him with it.
SCOTT MCCOLLUM Senior Copywriter, Leo Burnett
Don’t let his smile fool you, this guy is an advertising killer. If you look in the trunk of his Cadillac you’ll find a bunch of murdered briefs next to a shovel and ductape. And several Gatorades because hey, you never know.
ANDREW SIEGEL Copywriter, McCann
This is one Siegel that would never poop on your head at the beach.
JOSH CHUA Copywriter, Anomaly
Co-invented the bacon alarm clock, so now, nobody in the industry is sleeping on him. Metaphorically, at least.
NATE COONROD Design Director, Entrèe Creative
A great designer and way better skateboarder than J. Walter Thompson ever was.
REECE HOVERKAMP Freelance Art Director, 72andSunny
We hope these rankings don’t singlehandedly tear the Hoverkamp family apart.
COLEMAN DAVIS Art Director, McCann
Women of America, his number is 555-123-4567. (just in case that woman is Sallie Mae)
DEREK MCCOY Freelance Art Director, Jackson Dawson
A brilliant art director, musician, and photographer. There is only one art Derek has yet to master, the art of the out-of-office reply.
LESLIE SIMS Chief Creative Officer, Y&R
An industry legend and phenomenal leader, who despite our repeated requests, hasn’t made her agency pirate themed and change the name to “Y & Arrrrrrr”
JERRY HOAK Group Creative Director, Droga5
When people shout “JERRRRY, JERRRRY, JERRRRY” at him – they’re cheering his great work, not the prospect of an upcoming paternity test on live television.
CAITLIN D. HARRIS Senior Copywriter, McCann
She’s so talented, we have an “Orange Theory” she’s destined for greatness.
STEPHANIE WAGLEY Recruiter, HUGE
She excels in the high-stakes game of recruiting, even though this photo looks like it was taken during a very low stakes game of hide & go seek.
CHRIS GILBERT Copywriter, Mullen
Chris is the Sandy Koufax of advertising. He throws down scripts like Koufax threw no hitters. Except Chris has written more scripts than Koufax has thrown no hitters. Because he only threw like 4.
TIM NUDD Writer/Editor, Adweek
He does a great job running AdFreak, but imagine if he got his hands on that aforementioned photo of H.K Mccann. Website traffic would skyrocket.
COLLEEN DeCOURCY & SUSAN HOFFMAN Global Co-Executive Creative Directors, Wieden + Kennedy
These women have accomplished incredible things, made breakthrough work and inspired others. But now, they can finally check the big one off their list, beating out McCollum.
MARY WELLS LAWRENCE Advertising Executive
Named one of the top ten newsmakers of the 1960s by Ad Age, the 1971 Advertising Woman of the Year, and the youngest member inducted into the Copywriters Hall of Fame–but we’re sure those honors don't compare to this.
ANDREW CIACCIO Copywriter, Freelance
When creating solutions to brand challenges, Andrew takes a very "hands on" approach. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, those hands smell like cinnamon.
