Thomas P. Cavanagh - Partner

Education

  • BA, Advertising, Michigan State University\
  • Graduate School, Michigan State University

 

Biographical Information

Tom Cavanagh is a Partner in Los Angeles, CA. He is a seasoned advertising/marketing professional who has experience with many different types of management structures and cultures.

Cavanagh's 37 years of marketing and management experience include strategic planning, creative development, and media planning for national, regional, retail, corporate, and business-to-business clients. A few of the clients served have been General Motors, BMW, Goodyear, KFC, Honda, United California Bank, Acura, and Nissan. This has enabled Tom to build an extensive network of executive contacts.

Prior to opening his own agency, Cavanagh/Mercati, Tom spent much of his career building management teams where he was working. As Director of Marketing Communications at American Isuzu, he reorganized his department by flattening it and engendering a spirit of collegiality. This produced immediate results as that year's advertising campaign won an Effieª from the American Marketing Association for the most effective automotive marketing communication.

Previous to Isuzu, Tom was SVP on the Acura account at Ketchum Worldwide. While there, he was instrumental in winning the $49MM Acura Regional Marketing account. The first task was to open and staff seven regional offices in sixty days. A staff of 44 people was assembled in seven weeks through tapping into his network of contacts. As a result, Tom was named one of the top 64 managers at Ketchum Worldwide. He was invited to speak at their Leadership Conference.

Tom has also worked in senior management positions at Needham, Harper & Steers, Foote, Cone & Belding, Ammiratti & Puris, and Trilogy Software. Because of his people skills, Tom has many times acted as a consultant for search firms seeking to fill a position. He believes that it is imperative to have a thorough knowledge of the client's culture and management style to facilitate a proper fit.

Early in his career, Tom realized that adapting to change was important in managing employees, and the expectations of clients.

Tom lives in Pacific Palisades, California, and has two grown sons.

Professional Affiliations

  • Communication Arts & Sciences Alumni Association of Michigan State University
  • eMarketing Association
  • Online Advertising Professionals
  • Digital LA
  • North Valley Family YMCA
  • thinkLA
  • Motor Press Guild