Omnicom agency Martin* announced today that Kristen Cavallo will return as CEO effective next month. She’ll step into the role that Danny Robinson has held since March of 2024 after Cavello was named Global CEO of sibling agency MullenLowe. 

Robinson, a 21-year veteran of the agency, is retiring.  

Cavello had been CEO of Martin* from 2017 until 2022 before moving to MullenLowe. In 2024 she announced she was stepping down to get involved with various political and societal causes. 

During her first tenure as Martin* CEO she's credited with growing the agency's revenues by 50%.

MullenLowe and Martin* were both previously owned by Interpublic before the holding company was acquired by Omnicom last November.  

Cavallo joined The Branch Museum of Design in January 2025, serving as its Executive Director. As she steps up to the CEO post at the agency, she will shift to the role of Artistic Director at the museum. Both the agency and museum are located in Richmond. 

"The instinct in the advertising industry right now is to play it safe,” stated Cavello. “I think that's exactly wrong. The agencies that will matter in ten years or ten months are the ones that used this moment to get better. I believe MARTIN* is one of those agencies. We start with the belief that creativity isn't a luxury you cut when things get hard. It's the thing that gets you through.” 

Formerly known as The Martin Agency, Martin* rebranded earlier this year, dropping the words the and agency from its name and adding the asterisk, which is meant to punctuate its purpose-driven mission.