Peter Gerritsen, TAAN President, 2007 - 2017

Pete has recently assumed the leadership position of our network, working with member agencies, and promoting the network throughout the globe.

We view our network as a key ingredient in assisting member agencies, and their clients, in improving their knowledge through better skills, insights, and operational processes through a cooperative network of independent agencies throughout the world. The interactions between each member has brought valuable tools to the entire group by sharing ideas that effect the way each of us conduct business.

As Global President, my role is as a facilitator of this shared knowledge. Continuously looking to bring innovative thinking, creativity, and support to all the members and their clients.

Sean Duffy, Governor - International/Europe

Founding Partner, Creative Director
The Duffy Agency, Duffy Consulting, Malmö, Sweden

The founder of The Duffy Agency, Sean has over 20 years of experience working for advertising agencies including BBDO and the Lowe Group in both the US and Europe. Sean began his career as a copywriter and creative director. For the past 12 years, Sean has been providing brand management consulting for clients including Pharmacia, Santen, NovoNordisk, Q-Med, StoraEnso, Absolut, InWear/Matinique, and AudioDev. Sean has lectured on strategic branding at universities and industry events across Europe. He holds B.A. degrees in both English and Psychology.

 

John Reisky de Dubnic, Governor - International/Europe

Managing Partner, Account Director
The Duffy Agency, Duffy Consulting, Malmö, Sweden

John has over 20 years of experience in industrial sales and service management. He has held senior management positions in Boston, Prague and London. He moved to Sweden in 2001 with Turbec AB where he served as V.P. of Global Sales and Marketing. He then joined Schneider Electric as Director of Corporate Marketing and Business Development for TAC AB. John is a certified Sales Coach. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the Colgate Darden School of Business.

 

Bill Ling, International/Asia-Pacific

President
CCAA/Hong Kong

It's a great honor for me to be Governor for Asia. Being a member of TAAN since 1988, I have met many good colleagues through TAAN whom are willing to share experience with each other, assist each other to grow their business and also have fun. It is indeed a great group of people and I am proud to be a member of this network.

My task being Governor for Asia is to grow the network in this region so we will be stronger than ever to face the constantly increasing growth of advertising service demand in Asia especially China.

Mark Gale, Chairman - TAAN Board of Governors

Managing Partner
Charleston|Orwig

It’s no surprise to me that two of the best TAAN meetings I have attended over the years—one in Europe and one in the U.S.—occurred during a recession. At a time when we were trying not to spend more money than necessary, it simply made perfect economic sense to gather with other agency principals. As usual, fellow members shared successes and failures. They commiserated and suggested ways to solve problems. They let me know that others were facing the same challenges. (That, perhaps, is one of the very best things about TAAN.) As a newly-elected governor, I hope to use my experience with the group to help new members quickly take advantage of the benefits TAAN provides while ensuring that seasoned members always find something new at every meeting. TAAN has helped our business. It can help yours as well.

Jim Flynn, Governor - US

President/CEO
Hult Fritz Matuszak Today is a great time to be in the agency business. Never before has there been a broader range of communications vehicles from which to choose. New ones, old ones, fast ones, slow ones, big ones, small ones…the list goes on. Sure, turmoil within global economies has made it challenging for many agencies and clients. We are doing business in a time where many clients have extreme pressure for more accountability and to do more with less. These pressures provide an excellent opportunity for innovative agencies to excel and grow. That’s where TAAN comes in. As an agency CEO TAAN has been a powerful resource to help me understand trends that affect the way we do business every day. From the economy and taxes to legal issues and staffing to new media and workflow. Every TAAN meeting is an adventure in sharing and learning from other agency principals who live in the same world that you do every day. Couple this with insightful guest speakers who are thought leaders in their respective industries and you have a recipe for success. If you don’t have all the answers, you need TAAN. My goal as a TAAN Governor is to keep the organization fresh and relevant so that we can all prosper. Growth. Innovation. Sharing. Problem solving. TAAN provides the catalyst to make these things happen.

Gordon Hochhalter & Bob Goranson, US - Governor

Managing Partner
Mobium LLC/Chicago Gordon Hochhlater and Bob Goranson of Mobium in Chicago share the duties of the Governor position.

Bob Goranson

Partner, Account Strategy & Planning, Mobium

Gordon Hochhalter

Partner, Creativitystrategyconnectivity, Mobium

We joined TAAN over ten years ago to gain access to a global network that would help us appeal to international clients. We got that. But we have received so much more.

We have found friends from all around the world who have shaped our ideas and helped implement our plans and programs. We have received new insights and great advice from award-winning professionals and respected thought leaders who have been there before. We have been exposed to new ways of thinking about what we do from outside experts who have stretched and challenged us. We have shared the love of thinking differently with men and women of great creative talent and integrity. We have received the care, concern and help of a family of sorts who have always been there to share their hopes, frustrations, successes, failures and experiences about their businesses with us on a personal level.

We have been very fortunate. We joined TAAN and we got so much more. Now, as Governor (apparently it takes two of us to equal one decent Governor) we hope that we can give back one tenth of what we have received.

Marina Palomba, TAAN Legal Counsel - Europe

Partner
ReedSmith - London  
Marina heads up the Reed Smith UK Advertising Compliance practice, she has an unrivalled expertise for advertising and sponsorship law and regulation. From 2002 to 2010, she was the Legal Director of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising representing the top 270 advertising agencies such as McCann Erikson, BBH and M&C Saatchi. She also has particular expertise advising companies on brand protection and reputational matters, assisting companies at governmental levels respond to cross party select committees on matters such as the advertising of high fat salt and sugar (HFSS) foods; alcohol and commercialisation of children.
Marina was a Director of the Broadcast and non Broadcast Committees of Advertising Practice (2002-2010); a member of the Clearcast Copy Committee responsible for the pre-clearance of television commercials; a member of the Advertising Association Digital Media Group.

John Feldman, TAAN Legal Counsel

Partner
ReedSmith, Washington, DC

TAAN maintains a formal relationship with the national law firm of Reed Smith, the country's leading practice specializing in advertising and promotion law. And through their alliance with GALA, (Global Advertising Law Alliance), TAAN members may have access to legal advice and remedies almost anywhere in the world.

Jerry Langsner, CPA

Senior Partner
Kofler, Levenstein, Romanotto & Co., PC

Jerry has been TAAN'S financial advisor since 1996. He is always accessible for quick consults and is ready to visit your agency to review your financial practices and tax situation. At one meeting each year Jerry updates the organization on many topics including tax law changes, profitability analysis, succession planning and personal finances.