Recommendations - Benjamin Fruehauf

As the former Director of Account Services, I was tasked with shifting the agency structure from a small client driven shop to a small strategy driven creative shop. Key to that success was finding Ben, a seasoned Creative Director willing to take on the responsibility of wearing all of the creative hats and building out the creative team – including the implementation of a traffic department. No small undertaking.

Ben is a passionate creative and writer whose work is mindful and on strategy – even if the brief is less than a masterpiece, he kept the client service team on their toes. He works hard to make sure the client receives the highest quality work. A wonderful example of this storyteller at work is the LA Zoo’s, “Amazon Rainforest” creative, this massive award winning project was completed in just six months, while Ben was still building his team.

During this period Ben was instrumental in landing the Agency one of it’s largest wins. The California Earthquake Authority, the client was sold based on the strength of the creative platform that was developed to demonstrate the various initiatives during the pitch process, Ben’s ability to discuss these ideas and hold his own with a wannabe creative client was what sealed the deal.

Ben, a pleasure to work with will make a valuable to contribution to any agency.

Richelle Brown

Director of Account Services, Civilian Advertising

Over the past year and a half, I have had the privilege of witnessing Ben’s growth as a leader. From the outset, Ben displayed a strong leadership foundation coupled with an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement. His willingness to engage in self-reflection and vulnerability sets him apart, fostering an environment of trust and growth for himself and his team.

Ben’s leadership style is characterized by clarity, quality, and inspiration. He effectively communicates expectations, instills a focus on excellence, and motivates his team to achieve their goals. Ben understands the importance of both success and failure in the learning process, consistently supporting his team members through both.

One of Ben’s standout qualities is his embrace of openness and collaboration. He actively solicits input from his team members, valuing diverse perspectives and input.

In conclusion, Ben is an exceptional leader who possesses the rare combination of vision, empathy, and execution. I have been blessed to walk along side him as his coach in his own leadership development.

Suz Feely

JD, SPHR, PCC

I’ve had the pleasure to know Ben for about a decade, collaborating on a few different projects where I was the EP & director.

Since I’ve known him, Ben has always shown an awesome ability to bring creative concepts to life with unparalleled vision and expertise. His knack for understanding the essence of a brand and translate it in fun and impactful ad concepts has consistently elevated the projects we collaborated on.

Ben’s deep understanding of the nitty-gritty of the production process sets him apart and makes working with him a breeze. His insight into the logistical and technical aspects of bringing commercials to life means he can foresee potential hurdles and navigate them with ease, significantly smoothing the path from concept to completion. This comprehensive grasp of production intricacies not only elevates the creative outcome but also streamlines collaboration, making my job as a producer and director markedly more straightforward.

Ben’s leadership in steering creative teams is also noteworthy. Ben has a very clear creative vision while at the same time fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation, where every collaborator is encouraged to contribute their best. He’s the kind of leader who doesn’t just set a high level creative vision; he inspires, challenges, and, most importantly, makes the process fun. His ability to blend big-picture thinking with meticulous attention to production details ensures that projects are not just creatively sound but viably executable, making the entire process more efficient and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Ben has the right skills, experience, and drive to successfully lead any large creative team. Any organization that has the opportunity to work with him is sure to benefit from his expertise, guidance, and unyielding passion for advertising. I wholeheartedly recommend Ben and look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with him again in the future!

Thierry Denis

Co-Founder & Creative Director | OCKHAM FILMS

As the strategy lead, I have worked with Ben as my creative partner at MA for the last 4 years. Ben is driven to do the best work he can. He has challenged my team and I to keep it simple, ensure we are focused and give him a head start when it comes to ideation and concept creation. He has picked our brains, challenged our assumptions but been a good and supportive partner over our journey.
He is a strong mentor for his team and also great with clients. Ben will always deliver what ever the time line or restrictions you give him. He will find a way to produce work that works! He is incredibly professional and motivated to deliver something that goes above and beyond both creatively and from a business building perspective.

Catrina McAauliffe

Global Brand and Marketing Strategy Leader, Marketing Architects

A deft writer, a big thinker and a compelling presenter: Ben has the whole package. He also has uncommon versatility that enables him to thrive on many different types of assignments from insurance to packaged goods to retail.

Jack Rooney

Chairman & CEO, Ogilvy & Mather Chicago

Ben is a pain in the ass. Which is actually a compliment. He fights for the best ideas. His idea, someone else’s, it doesn’t matter. So while he might not always be easy to work with, (said the account guy), you definitely want him on your business. Actually, he happens to be one of the more collaborative Creative Directors I’ve had the opportunity to work with. And the guy flat out delivers. On a complete brand relaunch for our largest account (the California Earthquake Authority), Ben had the vision and the steady hand to lead our risk-averse client to a bold, breakthrough positioning and campaign. Good guy, stellar creative leader, and someone who’s up for a challenge, big budget, micro budget, no matter what it is. If you have a chance, you want to have Ben at the helm of your creative endeavor/group/etc.

Sean McGrath

Director of Account Services, Civilian Advertising

I feel so lucky to have Ben as the Creative Director for Cuneo. His passionate approach has raised the bar creatively and inspires the creative process. As a result Ben has created multiple client campaigns that have drastically increased results and has earned Cuneo multiple awards in the process. Ben’s knowledge, creativity and ability to interpret what the client wants and needs has produced amazing work that I am proud to put the Cuneo name on. I can’t tell you how many times he has brought a new concept to the table that makes me say where does he come up with this stuff? . In today’s marketing environment the complexities we face to force a brand to break through the clutter are so real. Ben makes that job a lot easier by bringing thoughtful concepts to the table focused on achieving client goals.

Katie Jackson-Richter

Director of Accounts and Interactive Development & Franchise Development Director, Cuneo Advertising

Ben is a bright, grounded, strategic thinking, passionate leader (and a very solid creative director/copywriter) who commands respect in an inclusive and inspiring way. He cares immensely about whatever he’s overseeing and his infectious energy inspires everyone around him. He is invariably looking to better the project by asking the important questions and by doing so gets the most out of all involved. He always seems to find a way to empower his team and the production company to deliver great work. I would work with him again in a heartbeat.

Darren Foldes

EP/Head of Sales, greendot films+three legged legs

I have a rare pleasure to endorse Ben Fruehauf as a Creative Director. We worked on Burger King together over the past few years and found his leadership in keeping the brand on course to be enormously inspired. The teams he guided on each promotion were able to communicate the message of each promotion to successful ends. He was professional, detail oriented and a committed leader on the busiest client Campbell Mithun had – Ben brought grace, intelligence and was calm under pressure. I know he would be an asset to any company.

Brent Larson

Integrated Production Business Affairs Manager, Campbell Mithun

I had the pleasure of working with Ben for a couple of years, first as his colleague on the agency side, and later and more importantly as his Client on the Burger King advertising business. Ben’s creativity and ability to lead a vast group of young creatives rendered great work for many years. Ben’s leadership and creative talent yielded many kids targeted campaigns, that were not only smart and strategically sound, but fun and memorable. Ben is not only a creative talent, but a seasoned professional that I was proud to have represent the business in front of important partners. Trustworthy in all aspects and fully knowledgeable in the segment he lead, Ben was truly a “partner” in the realm of the Client-agency business relationship, and someone I highly regard as a creative consultant. His knowledge, great personality and confidence in his creative output gave way for our team to trust and feel confident about creative and strategic recommendations and feel assured about any challenge that would arise. I highly recommend Ben as a creative professional to lead any type business, and represent any agency/business Client.

Marta Manach

Manager, Advertising Kids & Multicultural, Burger King Corporation

Ben is a hands- on very creative, detail oriented person. It was an honor working for someone who demanded no less than excellence.

Annlee Diamant

Owner, Unleaded Music

Working with Ben was a very rewarding experience for me during my time at CM. He is a collaborative team player whether you’re labeled a “creative” or an “account person” and he is open to being a mentor and helping to nurture one’s talent. He is always on the ball, down in the trenches and connected, whatever the personal sacrifice has to be and he is well-received and respected by clients. As a bonus, Ben is genuinely fun to work with and I consider him a great friend and I am grateful that I’ve had the opportunities to work with him.

Kalei Gaines

Account Executive, Campbell Mithun

Ben has a great ability as a creative director to be clear and concise in his direction. As a creative following his guidance, these traits help us find the right trails, and not the rabbit trails.

Matt Burgess

Writer, Campbell Mithun

I worked directly with Ben on many TV executions. He really understands advertising and how it melds with the process of production. Ben is also a great mentor of talent. He understands how to lead new creatives without breaking their spirits. He is a good friend and a valued team mate.

Bill Smallacombe

Producer, Campbell Mithun Advertising

Ben immersed himself in the creative process, while fostering a spirit of collaboration. He never settled until we exhausted all options, from casting to coverage… a filmmaker’s CD.

Jordan Brady

Directory, uber content

Ben rocks. Smart, savvy, creative.

Donna Wiederkehr

Director of Business Development, CM

Ben is both innovative and strategic in his thinking and his work. He understands the client’s business issues thoroughly and through his writing and idea development creates fresh and unique ways to address the issues. In addition, he was always a pleasure to work with.

Leslie Sell

Account Supervisor, Campbell Mithun

Ben is a creative leader who recognizes good work when he sees it, knows how to get it from his team, and is a fearless champion for selling it up the ladder. To that end, he’d be the first to tell me, “Selling it up the ladder” is an old, tired cliché, and I could do better. I speak from first-hand experience, having worked for Ben for the past 4 years. While deftly able to convey his vision, ideas, and expectations, he’s open-minded to differing opinions and perspectives. Ben also never forgets we’re in advertising and is a firm believer that we should have fun doing our job. It helps that he’s a talented, clever writer himself, and we share a similar sense of humor. Most every interaction we have (over Zoom, primarily), I need to be conscious of not drinking water or coffee at the time, lest I do a classic spit take onto my computer screen.

Jay Kaskel

Associate Creative Director, Marketing Architects

I’ve known Ben for two years, since meeting him during my time as a PR freelancer promoting AdEase, the agency where he was CCO, and then later Civilian after they changed their brand identity. There are several small sized agencies I’ve worked with in the San Diego area, but AdEase/Civilian made the biggest splash and got the most national attention, largely due to Ben’s work. The New York Times profiled their creative work for the Los Angeles Zoo, which won numerous awards and featured multiple executions across a wide range of platforms, all concepted and overseen by Ben. I got to hang out with him a lot during this period, and saw that not only was he a great creative mind, he also had excellent taste and judgment about what worked, and a discipline to get things done on time. He was hands-on without being obsessive, had a good sense of humor, and was easy to work with.

Tom Siebert

Founder/CEO , Wolfgang Solo Benevolent Propaganda/PR

Ben is one of those guys whose very charisma and professional demeanor puts your mind at rest as soon as you start to work with him. He’s a hugely accomplished and talented writer who succeeds at any creative task set in front of him by probing every element of the brand or product scenario before crafting carefully nuanced language which solves the matter at hand. Oh, and he has a fantastic sense of humor and is a thoroughly amusing gentlemen which makes working with and for him even more enjoyable and productive. But be cautioned that he can take a good idea and help make it great. However he won’t change things for the sake of putting his fingerprints on a project. Not only is he an excellent creative mind, the work he produces on his own is second to none. He digs deep for the insight that makes the concept hit the mark. Whenever I would see the work on his wall, I was always impressed. In short, Ben is an excellent writer who impresses clients with his good listening skills and thoughtful responsiveness to their issues and questions. Above all, his work gets results. And as most do in this business, we all must blow off a little stream. And he sure does, racing motorcycles any chance he can, ask him about it sometime. Set aside at least an hour though to listen to his fascinating trips across country, throughout Europe or just circling the track at record speed.

Patti Donovan

Creative Coordinator, BBDO New York

I had the distinct pleasure of partnering with Ben over the past three years, during which we led our teams as the senior creative and account leads, respectively. This period allowed me to witness firsthand Ben’s capacity to marry deep insights with high-quality creative solutions, driving results for our business initiatives.

He is not one to settle for the ordinary; he consistently strives for the extraordinary, making each project memorable and effective in meeting its objectives. He embraces a culture of openness and collaboration, considering ideas and suggestions from every team member, which significantly elevates the quality of our output.

His prowess goes beyond his creative ability; Ben has been instrumental in leading his team members with a blend of patience and insightful guidance, aiding them in reaching their utmost potential. His ability to build and maintain strong, synergistic relationships with cross-functional teams has ensured a cohesive and integrated approach to all our projects.

In closing, Ben is a professional, a dedicated mentor, and an invaluable asset to any team. His pursuit of excellence and his collaborative nature truly set him apart. I am confident in his abilities to bring his unique talents to bear on future endeavors, and I am eager to witness the continued impact of his remarkable work.

Dhiren Khemlani

SVP, Client Growth, Marketing Architects

Ben wasn’t in my creative group but was on top of my hit list when we needed to poach talent from down the hall. Always ready with an unexpected and relevant perspective, he (and his work) was able to withstand repeated and escalating creative challenges from some of the toughest clients I’ve ever worked with. This is a guy you want on your side.

Jim Bosha

Executive Creative Director, Campbell Mithun

I recently worked for Ben as a director on a Burger King Campaign. Ben has the rare talent of not only being a decisive leader, but also a great collaborator. It is clear he has the experience that comes with working at some of the best agencies on large accounts that makes him a valuable creative to have on any account. What I liked most about our experience together is ability to push through a complicated project with kids, trained animals, stunts, effects many locations and food and product shots with a clear vision and a great sense of humor. I would look forward to working together on any project with Ben. He is what you look for in a creative director.

Bruce Hurwit,

Director, Crossroads Films

Ben is a one-man advertising wrecking crew. He can write anything, direct as well as anyone inLA, deliver solid VO work and lead a remarkable team under crunch deadlines…there is literally nothing outside his capabilities. And he gets it. Given a morsel of information, he can quickly digest and move quickly. He’s fast, focused and driven. He’s quick to express his thoughts, engage in a fierce conversation, but just as quick at moving on and getting the job done. He’s protective of his, and his team’s work, and always challenges us, but he appreciates insights from everywhere and delivers excellence, passion and determination every day. I have immensely enjoyed working with him and would strongly recommend him to anyone.

Mike Fletcher

Sr. Manager, Global Cultural Marketing, Burger King Corporation

Ben was a huge part of my learning curve at Campbell Mithun. Coming in as a Junior Art Director I was lucky enough to work with him on my first TV shoot. He was very thorough and energetic (not to mention patient) while showing me the ‘ropes’. He allowed me to make decisions and learn from what was working and what wasn’t. Through the years I worked under him on the Burger King account – getting the same guidance but also the trust that was earned and respected. He’s a brilliant creative and an empowering director. I’d love to work with him again someday!

Gretchen Heim

Art Director, Campbell Mithun

I’ve worked with Ben on several projects now which he has directly overseen. During that time I’ve learned much from him about how to manage clients, how to manage directors, how to manage…well basically every part of what needs to be managed in order to end up with the best representation of the original idea that was scribbled on a bar napkin so many months ago. Most importantly, Ben taught me that when you’re in l.a. you drink martinis

Ian Simpson

Copywriter, Campbell Mithun

I’ve known Ben Fruehauf for approximately eight years and I find him to be absolutely concise in what he wants while maintaining his great creative ideas, yet staying open to the creative input of others. He’s probably one of the best collaborators I’ve ever worked with. Ben knows how to create an entertaining spot that consumers are intrigued and drawn in by, without compromising his vision while dealing with both directors and clients. Because of his efforts, these projects consistently reach the product goal through creative entertainment. From the production side, working with him requires me to bring my best skills and efforts to the table. In that challenge is a great joy and actually makes what we do in advertising fun. I look up to him as a creative leader and respect him without measure.

Syd Shelton

TV Commercial Producer, Self-Employed

I have had the pleasure of working with ben on and off for the past 8 years at Campbell Mithun. For the past year, we have worked closely together on the Burger King account. Ben is one of the best Creative Directors I have worked with. He gives his creatives a lot of rope, and knows when to reel them in. He has great creative instincts and always pushes for the right decision. He always has an opinion, but his mind is open and will entertain other ideas. He respects creative intention. He is always up front and direct with his thoughts in a respectful way. His clients have a lot of respect for him as well. Ben has a lot of talent, excellent communication skills, and will continue to have great sucess in this business because of it.

David Howell

Executive Producer, Campbell Mithun

It’s always amazed me how Ben never runs out of ideas. In a challenging client environment where each execution mandates being different and repetitive at the same time, he never burns out. His concepts always feel fresh. He’s also very strategic… he gets what’s going on in the ad industry and the consumer marketplace, and blends those insights with keen understanding of his client’s business objectives to lead production of well-executed work, every time.

Robyn Schauweker

Manager, Youth & Family Marketing, Burger King Corporation

I had the pleasure of working with Ben @ BBDO in Chicago in the early ’90s. We worked some projects together as an Art Director / Senior Copywriter team. I always found Ben to have boundless energy, focus, smarts, innovative thinking, and savvy. But what’s truly great about Ben is, he is usually hilarious. It’s hard to find him on a day that he is not. He has that gift. Ben was SO good that Chicago could not contain him. BBDO New York hand-picked him out of their mid-west office and brought him to New York. I was at BBDO Chicago for 8 years, and I NEVER saw this happen before or after. Ben was hand-culled by the powers that be in NYC to join forces with them. I think that says about all that needs to be said. Ben is a hot commodity. And anyone that works with him benefits.

Mark Ingraham

Associate Creative Director, The Ungar Group, Ogilvy & Mather, BBDO

Ben never got the memo that people in advertising are ego-maniacal narcissists. So instead, he actually listens to junior teams when they present their ideas. He asks them their opinions instead of presenting his as facts. He works with his colleagues rather than against them. And his door is in fact always open. Yes, Ben sounds pretty perfect. That is, until you see him in his pink shirt. I can say without hesitation that, whatever he’s working on, Ben Fruehauf brings his A-game every single time. He’s a terrifically talented writer with a gift for sharp thinking and bold ideas. His profound creative energy would make him an asset to any organization. I highly recommend Ben as an effective and charismatic leader, an innovative problem-solver–and
always, always one of the smartest guys in the room!

Monique Thomas

Copywriter, Campbell Mithun

Ben is an extremely talented Creative Director who works well with others on many levels. His leadership is outstanding, his ability to nurture and grow young talent has impressed me beyond words. His approach is personable and it is clear to me that he fosters motivation in others. Ben holds his own. Ben is that rare blend of a creator of fresh, compelling work – that also manages to comprehend the business side of advertising. He’s managed a team that creates work we and our client are all proud of – and earned the trust of this same client, whom recognizes a unified Creative/Account team that work towards the same objective. Ben is a pleasure to work with, and I’m relieved to have him as my CD!

Lee Allan

Interactive Creative Director, Campbell Mithun Advertising

A thoughtful, smart colleague, with a point of view. A terrific partner to work with always!

Steve Gordon

SVP, Campbell Mithun

Ben is an exceptionally talented creative leader. His thought process is thorough and innovative. He commands the respect of his colleagues and clients due to his excellent creative work and leadership qualities. I’d highly recommend Ben for any creative leadership position.

Norm Yustin

Chief Marketing Officer, Campbell Mithun