Margaret Johnson

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  • Goodby Silverstein & Partners

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Publications

  • The Five Best and Worst Super Bowl Commercials of 2020

    Fast Company

    The five best and five worst Super Bowl commercials of 2020
    Big game, big brands, big ads: Here are the biggest hits and misses.

    BY JEFF BEER4 MINUTE READ
    Over the last decade, perhaps the most significant strategic notion in advertising has been to create work that breaks through and becomes a part of culture. However, this is an increasingly difficult mission given that it’s coincided with a major shift in public behavior and technological advancement that has allowed and…

    The five best and five worst Super Bowl commercials of 2020
    Big game, big brands, big ads: Here are the biggest hits and misses.

    BY JEFF BEER4 MINUTE READ
    Over the last decade, perhaps the most significant strategic notion in advertising has been to create work that breaks through and becomes a part of culture. However, this is an increasingly difficult mission given that it’s coincided with a major shift in public behavior and technological advancement that has allowed and encouraged us to take any and every opportunity to skip and avoid that very advertising.


    Yet there remains one oasis. A place where the advertising is actually a part of the entertainment. A time when people actively look forward to and watch the commercials, at a level of collective experience unheard of in our current age of fragmented media consumption.

    The Super Bowl.

    “The Super Bowl is the Roman Colosseum of advertising,” Wieden+Kennedy chief creative officer and partner Colleen DeCourcy told me this week. With ads for Bud Light, Coke, McDonald’s, Facebook, Heinz, and TurboTax in the game, she should know. It’s far from life or death, but like that ancient battle arena, there are winners and there are losers.

    Are you not entertained?

    Here are our picks for best and worst ads of the 2020 Super Bowl.

    THE BEST

    Doritos, “Old Town Road” (teaser)

    I know, I know, this is not officially the ad, but hey, according to the agency exec behind it (Goodby’s Margaret Johnson) the teasers are arguably as important as the big game spot. While the full commercial itself is fun, this teaser is the one that delivers a hilariously unexpected celebrity-hit song combination that also just happens to be the velvet sandpaper vocal cords of Sam Elliott drawling out “Old Town Road.”

    See publication

  • GS&P TOPS FORBES’ LIST OF THE GREATEST AGENCIES, EVER

    Forbes

    Goodby Silverstein & Partners (1983- ): "Got "Milk?" two decades ago made one of the most boring products, milk, part of the vernacular and a cultural phenomenon; and who can forget a lizard named Louie and a couple of frogs named Bud and Er.

    Other authors
    See publication

  • Pepsi, Doritos and Mountain Dew snag top prizes in first Brand Bowl.

    Adweek

    See publication

  • GS&P Celebrates Its Own ‘Daughters of the Evolution’ in Cannes Panel Video

    Adweek

    For GS&P’s “Daughters of the Evolution” Cannes Panel, the agency enlisted the world’s toughest critics. Not awards show judges panels or, uh, AgencySpy, but the daughters of female industry leaders.

    Directed by Lauren Greenfield (The Queen of Versailles, Always’ “Like A Girl”), the video segment features the daughters of GS&P CCO Margaret Johnson, Design Army co-founder and CCO Pum Lefubure, Leo Burnett Canada CEO and North America CCO Judy John, Prettybird president Kerstin Lemhoff and…

    For GS&P’s “Daughters of the Evolution” Cannes Panel, the agency enlisted the world’s toughest critics. Not awards show judges panels or, uh, AgencySpy, but the daughters of female industry leaders.

    Directed by Lauren Greenfield (The Queen of Versailles, Always’ “Like A Girl”), the video segment features the daughters of GS&P CCO Margaret Johnson, Design Army co-founder and CCO Pum Lefubure, Leo Burnett Canada CEO and North America CCO Judy John, Prettybird president Kerstin Lemhoff and R/GA U.S. CCO Chloe Gottlieb.

    So what do they really think of mom? They all seem to agree that their moms “travel a lot,” and variously describe their mothers as “very bossy at home and at work” and “very intimidating” to friends. That said, they all seem to have a good deal of respect for their moms and the work they do. When asked about their favorite campaigns their moms have worked on, the girls mention Beyonce‘s “Formation” music video, anti-bullying PSA “I Am A Witness,” Always’ “Like A Girl” and H&M’s “She’s A Lady.”

    See publication

  • Daughters of Famous Ad Moms Speak Out at Goodby's Cannes Panel

    Creativity

    Today at the Palais des Festivals Goodby Silverstein tapped Lauren Greenfield, the director/photographer behind Always' #LikeaGirl campaign, numerous photo collections and books documenting the lives of girls including "Girl Culture," and award-winning documentaries "The Queen of Versailles" and the upcoming "Generation Wealth," to interview the daughters of famous ad moms.
    The "Daughters of the Evolution" panel featured the daughters of Leo Burnett CEO Canada and chief creative officer Judy…

    Today at the Palais des Festivals Goodby Silverstein tapped Lauren Greenfield, the director/photographer behind Always' #LikeaGirl campaign, numerous photo collections and books documenting the lives of girls including "Girl Culture," and award-winning documentaries "The Queen of Versailles" and the upcoming "Generation Wealth," to interview the daughters of famous ad moms.
    The "Daughters of the Evolution" panel featured the daughters of Leo Burnett CEO Canada and chief creative officer Judy John, Goodby's chief creative officer Margaret Johnson and Design Army chief creative officer Pum Lefebure. John's 16-year-old daughter Kia Medlock, Johnson's nine-year-old daughter Vivian McHugh and Lefebure's 12-year-old, Sophie Lefebure, discussed what it was like to grow up under their care and watching their mothers' career successes and struggles.
    Here's the teaser film -- also featuring Ella Emhoff, daughter of Prettybird Co-founder Kerstin Emhoff and Leela Ting, daughter of R/GA North America Co-CCO Chloe Gottlieb. As well as discussing their moms' hectic work schedules ("She's always really stressed out, but I think that's why she has a dog and a child,") the girls have some fascinating insights into the portrayal of women and girls in advertising in general, as well as the work that their mom has done that they most admire -- such as Always' Like a Girl and the Ad Council's Love Has No Labels. And, while none of them want to work in advertising, they have some pretty cool ambitions of their own -- including artist, soccer player and director.

    See publication

  • Goodby Silverstein & Partners and Frito-Lay redefine “agency-client”

    Dropbox

    There’s a false distinction that’s often made in the ad world, pitting award-winning creative work against work that’s effective in achieving clients’ business goals. In my opinion, you should never have to choose between those two options. It’s been said that “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Our 11-year partnership with Frito-Lay is a good example of that adage.

    See publication

  • Here’s Why These Advertising Giants and Mothers Are Bringing Their Daughters on Stage at Cannes

    Adweek

    A new perspective on work-life balance

    See publication

  • My favorite Super Bowl ad: GS&P's Margaret Johnson

    The Drum

    Ahead of Super Bowl 51, The Drum has asked some of the industry’s most influential people to reflect on their favorite Super Bowl ad of all time and discuss why it stands out to them.

    See publication

  • Here’s How These Creatives Cleared Their Biggest Hurdles Of 2016 Hopefully their answers will make your creativity in 2017 run much more smoothly.

    Fast Company

    Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

    At the beginning of last year, I challenged the creative department to produce more firsts that put technology and innovation at the center of our work. And to build it in-house, using the resources of our BETA creative technology group.

    The results were astounding. We produced the “Dreams of Dali” VR experience, SONIC #SquareShakes (the first product designed for and purchasable on Instagram) and the “I…

    Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

    At the beginning of last year, I challenged the creative department to produce more firsts that put technology and innovation at the center of our work. And to build it in-house, using the resources of our BETA creative technology group.

    The results were astounding. We produced the “Dreams of Dali” VR experience, SONIC #SquareShakes (the first product designed for and purchasable on Instagram) and the “I Am a Witness” anti-cyber bullying emoji (the first emoji built for a social cause)–all in-house.

    Pulling these off wasn’t always pretty and we learned a lot of lessons along the way, particularly in building Dreams of Dali, an application of VR technology that no one had done before. Not only was it extremely technical, requiring a lot of processing power to make the experience seamless and intuitive, but we had to make sure, for instance, we didn’t make people sick in the museum.

    Along the way, I learned that small failures are the stepping-stones on the path to new creative territory–something you need to embrace. As a leader, building that kind of “fail forward” culture in our department has been key. Seeing the new ideas coming out for 2017 gives me hope that the precedent set in 2016 is here to stay.

    See publication

Honors & Awards

  • Margaret Johnson to be Inducted Into North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame

    NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame

    The NC Media and Journalism Hall of Fame will induct Taylor Branch, Margaret Johnson, Mary E. Junck, Rochelle Riley and David B. Woronoff on Friday, April 12, 2019. Founded and administered by the UNC School of Media and Journalism, the Hall of Fame honors exceptional leaders with ties to North Carolina who demonstrate leadership in their spheres of influence; service to the professions and society; performance exemplifying the highest professional standards; and commitment to inspiring and…

    The NC Media and Journalism Hall of Fame will induct Taylor Branch, Margaret Johnson, Mary E. Junck, Rochelle Riley and David B. Woronoff on Friday, April 12, 2019. Founded and administered by the UNC School of Media and Journalism, the Hall of Fame honors exceptional leaders with ties to North Carolina who demonstrate leadership in their spheres of influence; service to the professions and society; performance exemplifying the highest professional standards; and commitment to inspiring and advancing young people in media and journalism careers.

  • Margaret Johnson is Ad Age's Agency Executive of the Year

    Ad Age

    https://tinyurl.com/y29dhctf

    You don't often find someone who has stuck by one agency for 21 years, as Margaret Johnson has at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, but she says she never seriously considered leaving. "I'd look other places, but it always came back to 'I love San Francisco and Rich and Jeff.' It's learning from great legends," Johnson says, referring to company co-founders Rich Silverstein and Jeff Goodby. "I've lived with them longer than my own parents," she adds with a…

    https://tinyurl.com/y29dhctf

    You don't often find someone who has stuck by one agency for 21 years, as Margaret Johnson has at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, but she says she never seriously considered leaving. "I'd look other places, but it always came back to 'I love San Francisco and Rich and Jeff.' It's learning from great legends," Johnson says, referring to company co-founders Rich Silverstein and Jeff Goodby. "I've lived with them longer than my own parents," she adds with a laugh.
    She's learned well. Her team's creative gymnastics were behind an astounding $1 billion in new business last year for the agency, including the prized Pepsi account, Liberty Mutual and the social business for longtime client Comcast's Xfinity. It's an impressive run for Johnson, who is the shop's first chief creative officer and first female partner, and who is dedicated to increasing the ranks of women at the agency. Already, 64 percent of GS&P's management team is female.

    She's also dedicated to keeping talent at the agency, where turnover is 12 percent despite heated competition from Silicon Valley for digital expertise.
    "She's brilliant at building teams. We have a lot of great creatives on our account and they want to work for her," says Todd Arata, senior VP of brand marketing at Comcast, a client for 14 years. "It's rare for a brand to be with an agency for as long as we have, and for so many creatives to stay more than three or four years."
    "She listens and is a genuinely good person," says Pepsi Chief Marketing Officer Greg Lyons of Johnson. "She handles difficult situations elegantly and is the exact person you want running your account."
    And the somewhat self-effacing Johnson ("My name sounds like a schoolmarm—it's plain, not flashy, like me," she says) isn't one to accept the status quo.
    "She is incredibly inquisitive and wants to know how the products work and why it has to be the way it is," says Arata. "She is always pushing us a little further."

  • The 30 most creative women in advertising

    Business Insider

    http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-creative-women-in-advertising-2017-4/#30-margaret-johnson-chief-creative-officer-and-partner-at-goodby-silverstein-and-partners-1

    Margaret Johnson leads the creative department at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. She was named a partner at the agency in 2012 and became the chief creative officer in 2016. At GS&P she has helped turn the agency into one of the industry's most innovative through smart use of new platforms and technology.

    Under…

    http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-creative-women-in-advertising-2017-4/#30-margaret-johnson-chief-creative-officer-and-partner-at-goodby-silverstein-and-partners-1

    Margaret Johnson leads the creative department at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. She was named a partner at the agency in 2012 and became the chief creative officer in 2016. At GS&P she has helped turn the agency into one of the industry's most innovative through smart use of new platforms and technology.

    Under her leadership, GS&P has brought a humanitarian edge to the work it produces, such as the unacceptable college acceptance letters campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses and Tostito's "Party Safe" breathalyzer chips bag.

    Johnson also serves on the boards of the One Show and Facebook's Creative Council and is a founding member of The 3% Conference. She has won a number of awards and has been part of juries at the ANDYs, CLIOs, and Cannes Lions.

    Twitter: @maggiejca

  • Creativity Innovators: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners - Agency A-List 2017

    AdAge

    http://adage.com/article/special-report-agency-alist-2017/creativity-innovators-goodby-silverstein-partners/307594/

  • Chat Room: Margaret Johnson Breaks New Ground At Goodby Silverstein & Partners

    Shoot Magazine

    Reflections on becoming GS&P’s 1st female CCO https://www.shootonline.com/news/chat-room-margaret-johnson-breaks-new-ground-goodby-silverstein-partners

  • The 30 most creative people in advertising 2016

    Business Insider

    http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-creative-people-in-advertising-2016-8

  • After 33 Years, GS&P Has Its First CCO, and It's Margaret Johnson

    AdWeek

    http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/after-33-years-gsp-has-its-first-cco-and-its-margaret-johnson-173154

  • Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Names Margaret Johnson Chief Creative Officer, Derek Robson President

    AdvertisingAge

    http://adage.com/article/agency-news/goodby-silverstein-partners-names-margaret-johnson-chief-creative-officer-derek-robson-president/305616/

  • My Campaign in Five Executions: Margaret Johnson

    Campaign US

    http://www.campaignlive.com/article/career-5-executions-margaret-johnson/1393056

  • The Creative 100: 10 Chief Creative Officers Who Are Inspiring Breakthrough Work at U.S. Agencies

    AdWeek

    http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/advertising-branding/10-chief-creative-officers-who-are-inspiring-breakthrough-work-us-agencies-165896

  • Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business

    San Francisco Business Times

    http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/05/influential-women-bay-area-business-2014.html

  • 30 Most Powerful Women in Advertising

    Business Insider

    http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-powerful-women-in-advertising-2012-10?op=1

Organizations

  • Girl Culture Films

    Board Member

    - Present

    LAUREN GREENFIELD LAUNCHES GIRL CULTURE FILMS AND MARGARET JOHNSON JOINS ITS ADVISORY BOARD https://www.shootonline.com/news/lauren-greenfield-launches-girl-culture-films

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