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 Company: Avenue A | Razorfish
Company Description: Avenue A | Razorfish is one of the largest interactive marketing and technology services agencies in the world. The company helps industry leaders such as Kraft, Dell, The New York Times and Starwood Hotels use digital channels to acquire and service customers. An operating unit of aQuantive, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQNT), Avenue A | Razorfish has offices across the US, and global operations.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive – Service Businesses – up to 2,500 Employees
Nomination Title: Katy Thorbahn, Senior VP & General Manager, Avenue A | Razorfish
Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated executive
during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):
As Senior Vice President and General Manager, Katy Thorbahn is responsible for
managing the Philadelphia office of Avenue A | Razorfish. Katy is an industry
veteran who has spent her entire 17+ year career in advertising.
One of Katy’s greatest accomplishments is earning the opportunity to run an
important office of a publicly held company at the relatively young age of 37,
and to be one of the few women within Avenue A | Razorfish to be in a similar
role. During Katy’s tenure, the Philadelphia office has more than tripled its
revenues and grown to more than 135 employees, making it one of the largest
interactive agencies in Philadelphia and the fourth largest office in Avenue A |
Razorfish’s 19-office global network. The office was named a “best place to work
in PA” according to the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.
The company’s success recently caught the eyes of Microsoft, which announced
plans to acquire Avenue A | Razorfish while allowing it to operate
independently, with its current name and structure. The move marks the first
time that a Microsoft company will have a significant presence in Philadelphia.
In May 2007, Katy was featured by Philly Women as the “Woman of the Week” on
Philly.com.
Operating in a dynamic and constantly evolving space, Katy pushes the agency in
new directions and was instrumental in expanding the company’s services in web
development, creative, search engine marketing, and emerging media, which
complemented its existing strength in online media. Her office has become a hub
for advanced media solutions, which focuses exclusively on helping marketing
clients understand and apply new and emerging digital tactics--Internet video,
podcasting, iTV, and mobile advertising. It has also grown into a center of
excellence for Search Engine Marketing, complete with its own proprietary
software and tools now used by the company’s clients nationwide.
Much of Katy’s success in managing a large office stems from her philosophy that
to succeed, you need smart ideas. Who those ideas come from is completely
unimportant. Katy tells new employees that “the best ideas for our business
come from the people who are actively involved with our clients’ business on a
day-to-day basis, and if we wait for business evolving ideas to come from me or
other senior members of our management team, we will miss far too many great
ideas.” She attempts to make everyone feel invested in the business, and
confident that they need – and expect – their ideas in order for the company to
continue to succeed.
Katy is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies local
Philadelphia council which focuses on expanding and strengthening the
advertising community in the Philadelphia region. She also helped with the
economic development of the Swarthmore Town Center and participates in a variety
of community work both on behalf of the office and in her personal time.
List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:
http://www.philly.com/philly/phillywomen/Woman_of_the_Week__KATY_THORBAHN.html
http://www.avenuea-razorfish.com/pressReleases/pr_20061211_Agency.htm
Provide a brief biography of the nominated executive (up to 100 words):
Prior to joining Avenue A | Razorfish, Katy worked for more than four years at
VirTu, Inc., an internet marketing company, leaving the agency as the Vice
President of Account Services. While with VirTu, Katy was responsible for
developing and implementing marketing efforts for a variety of clients,
including: SmithKline Beecham, Exelon Corp., CIGNA Group Insurance, Penn Mutual
Life Insurance, Independence Blue Cross and Mission Pharmacal. In addition to
helping set the strategic direction for VirTu, Katy oversaw all of the agency's
work on behalf of clients.
Prior to joining VirTu, Inc., Katy spent five years with The Weightman Group. As
an Account Manager, Katy worked with clients to develop and execute marketing
efforts for such clients as ALPO Petfoods, Inc, Scott Paper Company, Campbell
Soup Company, and Sunoco's line of high-end motor oils.
As the mother of two young children, another one of Katy’s accomplishments is
successfully balancing her career with a busy family life. She graduated cum
laude from the University of Richmond, with a BA in English and a minor in
women's studies.
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