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Burrell Communications Group

Burrell Communications Group L.L.C. is an American advertising agency founded by chairman emeritus Thomas (Tom) J. Burrell and headquartered in Chicago, IL. It is one of the largest multi-cultural marketing firms in the world. The company's assignments have been discussed by The New York Times. Some of the company's work is part of a collection in the Library of Congress.

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Jun 20, 2026
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Burrell Communications Group
IndustryAdvertising
Founded1971 (1971)
FoundersThomas J. Burrell, Emmett McBain
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
,
USA
Key people
Fay Ferguson, McGhee Osse, co-chief executive officers
Lewis Williams,
chief creative officer
Websitewww.burrell.com

Burrell Communications Group L.L.C. is an American advertising agency founded by chairman emeritus Thomas (Tom) J. Burrell and headquartered in Chicago, IL. It is one of the largest multi-cultural marketing firms in the world. The company's assignments have been discussed by The New York Times.123 Some of the company's work is part of a collection in the Library of Congress.4

History

Burrell Communications was founded in 1971 by Tom Burrell and then-partner Emmett McBain, and was originally named Burrell McBain.5 When McBain left in 1974, Burrell renamed the agency to Burrell Communications Group.5

The company had been established to attempt to forge an authentic and respectful relationship with African-American consumers, and to utilise how the black aesthetic could also appeal to general market consumers. It was at this time that Burrell coined the phrase "Black people are not dark-skinned white people." Recognizing that there existed inherent cultural differences, and the fact that these differences drove patterns of consumption, became a driving force and inspiration for future ad campaigns at Burrell. They had established a leading shop for niche African American-focused communications, beginning with the Black Marlboro Man for Philip Morris. Their list of accounts quickly expanded to include the large brands McDonald's and Coca-Cola.5 A Coca-Cola commercial entitled "Street Song" won Burrell its first Clio Award.6 By 1979, Burrell topped $10 million in billing per annum, making it one of the most successful multi-cultural advertising shops in the United States.5

Other accounts they added included Martell Cognac and Stroh's accounts (1981–1983). Burrell's "Double Dutch" Commercial for McDonald's gained national attention and a Gold Award at the U.S. Television Commercials Festival.7 By 1996, agency billing climbed to $20 million.5 To better serve Coca-Cola, Burrell opened an office in Atlanta, GA.5 More work came from Procter and Gamble, Crest Toothpaste, Polaroid and Kraft Foods Stovetop Dressing.5

The agency was awarded the Grand Effie by the American Marketing Association for its work on "Who Wants," a spot created for the Partnership for a Drug Free America.8 Burrell gained new clients including Nynex, Mobil, Nabisco's A1 Steak Sauce, Maxwell House Coffee and Sears. Agency billing topped at $128 million.5 Burrell later acquired DFA Communications, a general market advertising and direct marketing agency based in New York, gaining direct marketing expertise as well as a New York presence.9

49% sold to fund expansion

In 1999, they sold a 49% minority stake to French media giant Publicis Groupe in order to fund its expansion.10 Burrell Communications was awarded projects by Toyota, Hewlett-Packard and General Mills.1112

21st century

In 2002, Burrell was named Black Enterprise's Advertising Agency of the Year.13

Tom Burrell retired in 2004.14 The agency launched the Toyota Camry in 2007 with "If Looks Could Kill," the first digital campaign of its kind to target African-American women.15 In 2009, they were granted the American Airlines account, and a Toyota ad was on the Super Bowl.16

2010s

2010: Burrell launches Threshold Nation, a subsidiary dedicated to marketing toward the multi-ethnic urban male.17

2011: Burrell Communications is named Black Enterprise's Advertising Agency of the Year and adds Comcast to its list of clients.1518

2013: Burrell launches Rising Tide, a Tide-sponsored aspirational social network for millennials looking for professional access. The program featured hip-hop media mogul Russell Simmons, who shared his advice with the young, professional audience.

2014: Burrell launched the 2013 Toyota Avalon "Only The Name Remains" campaign, starring Academy Award nominee Idris Elba. The campaign won a Gold National ADDY Award, was an Official Webby Award Honoree, and was listed as the FWA Site of the Day.

2019: Entrepreneur and writer Christine Michel Carter named Burrell Communications Group as one of the largest global multicultural marketing firms.19

Clients

Some of their major clients have been using their services for over 30 years, including:20

Industry awards

  • Clio award2122
  • Grand Effie23
  • Black Enterprise's Advertising Agency of the Year (2002)13
  • Black Enterprise's Advertising Agency of the Year (2011)15
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Toyota Turns to a Bulldog to Talk Up the RAV4". The New York Times. July 5, 2011.
  2. "The Media Business: Verizon Communications". The New York Times. September 18, 2000.
  3. "The Media Business: General Mills". The New York Times. May 30, 2001.
  4. "Coca-Cola Company donates its collection of Black advertising by Burrell Communications Group to Library of Congress". Jet Magazine. October 20, 2003. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  5. Fawcett, Adrienne W. (June 3, 1996). "Burrell at 25, A Commemorative". Advertising Age.
  6. Chambers, Jason (2009). Madison Avenue and the Color Line: African Americans in the Advertising Industry. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-8122-0385-1.
  7. "Double Honors". Jet. December 27, 1982. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  8. Stuart, Elliot (June 8, 1994). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising; An anti-drug public service campaign wins a prestigious prize for advertising effectiveness". New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  9. "Burrell Communications Group". Advertising Age. September 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  10. Valcourt, Josee (October 1, 1999). "Burrell Communications sells 49% of firm to Publicis Will black ad agencies have to merge to stay alive?". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  11. "Toyota Announces Partnership With African American Advertising Agency". PRNewswire. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  12. Brown, Monique R. (June 2002). "Born to transform: the Burrell Communications Group bursts out of the ad agency box to become bigger, better, and bolder - B.E. Advertising Agency Of The Year - Company Profile". Black Enterprise. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  13. Finkelman, Paul (2009). Encyclopedia of African American history, 1896 to the present: from the age of segregation to the twenty-first century, Volume 1. Oxford University Press. p. 317. ISBN 9780195167795.
  14. Lewis Lazare (September 20, 2017). "Chicago ad man Tom Burrell makes history with a top honor". BizJournals (Chicago).
  15. Alleyne, Sonia (June 2011). "Growth By Reinvention". Black Enterprise. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  16. Tedesco, Richard. "Toyota Ties Events to Venza Spots in Big Game". Promo. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  17. "Burrell Communications(TM) Launches Threshold Nation(TM)" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  18. "Comcast names Burrell Communications African-American agency of record". Target Market News. March 8, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  19. Carter, Christine Michel (March 23, 2018). "Is Your Ad Racially Insensitive? What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Missteps by Gap, Dove and H&M". Entrepreneur. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  20. "Burrell at 25". Advertising Age. June 3, 1996. pp. C1–C16.
  21. Burrell awards, 1975 thru 2013
  22. "Burrell Communications Group". Advertising Age. September 15, 2003. Three years later it won its first Clio Award for 'Street Song'
  23. Adrienne W. Fawcett (June 3, 1996). "Perseverance pays dividend at $128 million Burrell shop". Advertising Age. pp. C2, C4, C6.