Peter Mayer just added a brand new member to our ever-growing team: Walt Barron, Vice President, Strategy Director. A native of Tennessee and a veteran of the Advertising Industry, Walt joins us from McKinney, where he served as Group Strategy Director. Prior to that he worked on Capitol Hill as a reporter for Congressional Quarterly.

Today we sat down with Walt to learn about what he will be doing for Peter Mayer, why he decided to move to New Orleans, and what exactly he sees every day out of his floor-to-ceiling office window.

 

1. What will you be doing for the agency as Vice President, Strategy Director?

I’ll be leading our strategic offering at the agency, combining our digital and analytical chops while implementing brand planning (or account planning, as some know it). In more concrete terms, my team and I are here to help 1) inspire, inform and guide the development of creative work; 2) sell our best work to our clients, and 3) measure and evolve the work after it’s been produced and gone “live.” To that end, we always partner with everyone here, mainly Creative, Account Management, Media and Interactive.

2. What is your philosophy on brand strategy?

Above all else, it’s about empathy with our clients’ audiences – as people, and not just as “consumers.” The more we put ourselves in their shoes, homes, cars, behind their laptops and mobile devices, etc., the more likely we are to create work that means something to them and motivates them to act, to our clients’ benefit.

3. Why do you love what you do?

Most of all, I get to work with cool, smart, creative, open-minded people who also are passionate about what they do. I have the freedom to be naïve, stupid and curious. I get to constantly learn new stuff. And I am part of a team that creates real, positive change in the world (I’m being serious).

4. What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

Honestly, I don’t know yet. I’m on Day 15 and may know more later. There are a lot of things to love here (music, drinks, live oaks, festivals, Hubig’s Pies…), but I have a pull to this city that I can’t explain.

5. Be honest: what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen outside your office window?

A single large, rubber wheel rolling down the sidewalk – at an unusual speed. Never saw the source. Also, Eddie Snyder.