Crown + Conquer, an independent agency known for its ability to connect brands to culture through meaningful experiences, world-class content and dynamic partnerships, announced today that it has selected leading marketing executive Donald Franklin as its first CEO. Franklin will work closely with founder April McDaniel to further the ongoing growth of the trailblazing independent agency.
Franklin joins Crown + Conquer from United Entertainment Group, a DJE Holdings Company, where he served as Executive Vice President. He previously held senior positions at Edelman and UBS. Throughout his career, Franklin brought fresh perspectives and dynamic solutions to clients, including work with iconic brands which earned media recognition and industry awards for creativity and thought leadership.
“This is a milestone moment for our agency,” said McDaniel. “With his unique background in both marketing and finance, Donald brings a firm belief in the business proposition of marketing and an incredible level of business acumen to our enterprise . He will help us further operationalize and scale how we deliver boundary-pushing creativity to our world-class clients. I look forward to great things ahead for Crown + Conquer as we continue to expand our reach, capabilities and cultural impact.”
“I am delighted to join Crown + Conquer, their mission and ability to be changemakers very much aligns with my values and how I see the future of marketing,” said Franklin. “Crown + Conquer is charting a new path by demonstrating how an agency can be both nimble in its approach and outsized in its impact and how brands can lean into culture by creating it. April is a visionary founder and I’m honored to partner with her to further grow this dynamic agency.”
Robbie Robinson, co-founder and CEO of strategic investment and advisory platform Pendulum, sole outside investor in Crown + Conquer, said, “At Pendulum, we are devoted to reimagining how great companies and brands are built and who gets to build them. Crown + Conquer is at the forefront of pushing the industry forward, and the addition of Donald Franklin to an already extraordinary team will help to further accelerate their growth trajectory.”
After honing his skills early on in M&A banking with UBS Investment Bank, Franklin developed a passion for marketing, leading him to establish his own venture dedicated to creating bespoke campaigns for start-ups and established brands aimed at niche markets. In his most recent role Franklin served as Executive Vice President of Business Strategy at United Entertainment Group, A DJE Holdings Company. His leadership drove transformation and innovation, including remarkable year-over-year growth, international expansion and the launch of new capabilities.
It was during his time at Howard University that a passion for urban youth empowerment began and today he actively supports Orange Arrow and Urban Word, dedicating his time and resources to initiatives that positively impact urban youth. Franklin’s appointment comes at a time of significant growth for Crown + Conquer, which recently named Jennifer Zaitz Sutherlin as Head of Talent and Partnerships and moved its headquarters to the iconic Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.
About Crown + Conquer
Crown + Conquer, a trailblazing agency, has a client roster that includes global clients Google, L’Oreal, Spotify, Adidas, Coca-Cola and Netflix. Woman-owned and minority-led, Crown + Conquer has quickly and quietly made a name for itself, scaling rapidly in just six short years. The company prides itself on pushing brands outside their comfort zone by connecting brand truths with human truths to bring them to life and forge real connections with consumers.
