Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast #494 - Mark Fitzloff | He Spent 20 Years At Wieden+Kennedy
10 snips
Oct 1, 2025 Mark Fitzloff, a veteran creative leader with 20 years at Wieden+Kennedy, founded Portland's Opinionated, known for transforming brands like Nike and Old Spice. He shares the pitch that saved Old Spice by embracing its age with humor instead of erasing it. Mark advocates for simplicity in creativity and discusses how to find insights through personal connections. He offers advice on breaking into advertising, highlighting the importance of networking and distinctive portfolios that showcase individual voice.
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Working Both Sides Of Rival Brands
- Opinionated landed Adidas early and used competing-brand experience to win work.
- Mark describes this as a fortunate situation of working both sides of rival global brands.
From Long Tenure To Starting Up
- Mark left Wieden+Kennedy after 20 years amid internal politics and started Opinionated.
- His origin story was unstrategic but common: build your own shop after a long tenure.
Hybrid Office Policy With Core Days
- Offer flexible in-office expectations that respect commutes and life balance.
- Use hybrid days to keep culture while acknowledging employees' routines.
