• by Fern Siegel , April 21, 2025

Atlanta agency Ammunition has selected Jonathan Hayes as chief creative officer.

Hayes joined Ammunition following the agency’s acquisition of his Atlanta-based studio, Mad Hat Creative, in June 2023, as executive video director. 

Now, he will lead all creative operations — campaign development, brand-building, product and digital design, video production, and driving AI integration. This reflects a broader shift in how creative leadership is defined, moving toward a more holistic approach to building brands and delivering results.

Hayes will work on a variety of clients, including LG, Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta Hawks and FerrellGas.

As part of the agency's AI evolution, Sean Brown also becomes head of production.

“Stepping up as CCO now, when our industry is redefining itself, is a rare opportunity to reshape how we collaborate with clients,” Hayes told Agency Daily. “At our core, we stress ‘Intelligent Augmentation,’ which means applying cutting-edge AI capabilities in a way that empowers our creative teams — not replaces them. It’s a human-centric approach to tech-driven creative innovation that results in faster, smarter and more resonant work. Ultimately, it’s about putting people first and keeping client success at the center of everything we do.”

“This is a defining moment — not just for our agency, but for the industry,” added Jeremy Heilpern, CEO of Ammunition. “Clients are looking for more than just great creative; they want fast, smart, tech-forward solutions that move the needle. Jonathan’s vision and deep understanding of AI and modern production are exactly what we need to lead this next chapter.”

Inc. magazine recognized Ammunition as one of the country's fastest-growing private companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list. 

Ammunition is a member of Worldwide Partners.