Anchorage, AK – Mike Leon, a veteran creative director who has developed advertising campaigns for some of the best-known brands in the world, has joined MSI Communications as creative director. Leon succeeds outgoing creative director Grant Johnston, who will bring his expertise to the agency’s client services department, managing strategic accounts and issue campaigns. Johnston continues to serve as the agency’s vice president and campaign strategist.

“We’re very excited to welcome a new creative director with a track record of helping clients grow through the design of good strategic creative campaigns,” said agency president Laurie Fagnani. “Mike has led some very impressive national campaigns, and he’s the perfect leader for our multi-media creative team. And we are very happy to have Grant back working closely with all clients on innovative, strategic campaigns that have the potential to make a real impact on Alaska.”

Leon comes to MSI with more than 20 years’ experience in advertising at some of the top agencies in the country. His clients have included Volkswagen, IBM, ExxonMobil, Ford trucks, Proctor & Gamble, Sprint, AutoZone and Bayer Chemical. As the art director of Doyle Dane Bernbach in New York, he was responsible for the American introduction of the Volkswagen Jetta, and as creative director of JWThompson in Detroit, he oversaw television and print campaigns to launch the Ford Explorer and Windstar minivan.

In addition to commercial clients, Mike has represented government agencies and utilities, including Wabash Valley Power, the Indiana Secretary of State and Office of the Indiana Attorney General and the Tennessee Departments of Transportation and Tourism.

Leon’s work has earned him numerous awards including Tellys, Effies, inclusion in the Smithsonian Institution Advertising Archives, a National Addys Best in Show Award for PSA Broadcast Campaign and a National Emmy for Public Service Advertising. He attended Art Center College of Design and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State Los Angeles.
The arrival comes on the heels of a season of growth for MSI. The agency recently welcomed a new copywriter and account executive, Maia Nolan-Partnow, a former managing editor of the online news site Alaska Dispatch, as well as Beth Stamm in the role of account coordinator.

MSI Communications is a full-service agency located in Anchorage. Founded in 1995 by Laurie Fagnani, MSI provides public relations, crisis communications, advertising, strategy, video, Web, social media, SEM and graphic design services to clients in the tourism, transportation and oil and gas industries, as well as Alaska Native Corporations, small businesses and public outreach campaigns.

Learn more at www.msialaska.com.