LPK is a brand design agency headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, with offices in Cincinnati, Geneva, London. The company is the largest employee-owned brand design agency in the world.
History
LPK’s origins trace back to 1919, when Cliff Schaten started an art studio called C.H. Schaten Studios upon his return to Cincinnati after World War One. In 1959, seven of its employees purchased the company, renaming it Studio Art Associates. During the 1960s and 1970s, the company, which had been renamed Cato Johnson, opened offices in London, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, New York and Toronto. In 1975, Cato Johnson was acquired by advertising firm Young & Rubicam, which continued to expand with locations in San Francisco, Hong Kong, São Paulo and Mexico City. In 1983, five Y&R employees—Mort Libby, Ray Perszyk, Jerry Kathman, Howard McIlvain and Jim Gabel—organized a leveraged buyout of the Cincinnati office and renamed the firm Libby, Perszyk, Kathman.
Leadership
From LPK’s founding in 1983 until 1997, the late Mort Libby served as Chief Executive Officer, followed by Jerry Kathman, who served as CEO from 1997 until 2016. In 2015, Executive leadership included Chief Executive Officer Jerry Kathman,Chief Creative Officer Nathan Hendricks, Global Development Officer John Recker, Chief Organizational Officer Phil Best and Chief Financial OfficerDennis Geiger. In July of 2016, the company announced the appointment of LPK’s current chief officers: Chief Executive Officer Sarah Tomes, Chief Financial Officer Brent McCoy and Chief Insight & Innovation Officer, Valerie Jacobs, who joined Chief Creative Officer Nathan Hendricks. Jerry Kathman now serves as Founder and Chairman of the Board at LPK.
Clients
Clients have included Bayer, Coleman, Expedia, US Bank, P&G, Kellogg’s, Mondelẽz, SUNY and others.
Awards
Transform Awards North America 2019-Best visual identity from the FMCG sector: Silver- The Mad Optimist
Transform Awards North America 2019-Best visual identity from the financial services sector: Highly commended- Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Transform Awards North America 2019-Best brand evolution: Highly commended- The J.M. Smucker Company
