Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> April 14, 2004

TOM SIMONS – PARTNERS+simons

TOM SIMONS is President/Creative Director of PARTNERS+simons. Tom graduated from Harvard College in 1975 and Environmental Studies), educated far beyond his actual intellect. His advertising career began with his hire at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos as a "potentially useful person." Three years later he left as an Art Director and moved to Arnold & Company, where he was named Associate Creative Director. In 1981, he co-founded Rizzo, Simons, Cohn, and in 1989, PARTNERS+simons, now one of the largest independent advertising communications firms in New England, depending on who's counting. Decorated for his art direction and creative direction for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Benetton, PC WEEK, Staples, Charles Schwab & Company and New Balance Athletic Shoe, Tom was named Print Art Director in New England ADWEEK's 1992 "Creative All-Stars" and ADWEEK's Creative Director in 1994. Nonetheless, his three children are convinced he will never be as good as he was when he was responsible for the giant inflatable lock on The Fortress building. On the business side of things, Tom's success with the "Hollywood Model" has attracted the attention of regional and national media, resulting in an appearance on the cover of Inc. Magazine and in the August 8 edition of the Wall Street Journal. He has published articles in The Boston Business Journal, The Advertiser and Inc Magazine. He has authored or co-authored six different eBooks - all available on amazon.com - on how to work collaboratively to build successful brands, identities, content delivery systems and relationships in these very dynamic times. In addition to serving as the Co-President of the Board of Directors of Parents' and Children's Services, he is the Chair-elect of The Boston Idea Group and a member of the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council Board of Directors (MIMC). He is also an active participant in the Mayor's Digital Bridge Foundation and the Young Grafitti Masters. In October 2000, Tom accepted the Arnold Rosoff Award for the brand building advertising campaign created in collaboration by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and PARTNERS+simons. Profile
TWST: May we begin with a brief overview of PARTNERS+simons?

Mr. Simons: We are a marketing communications firm that is coming up on

its 15th anniversary in the beginning of May. We have 55