McKinney has been selected by global sports company PUMA as their global Agency-of-Record (AOR) for all strategy & creative work across the PUMA Run/Train business unit. PUMA has 75 years of history of moving sports and culture forward and has worked with some of the greatest athletes of all time such as Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man. With the re-launch of PUMA Running in 2021, including the completely redesigned line of NITRO running shoes, McKinney has an opportunity to cement PUMA as a premier shoe for a new generation of runners worldwide.
The opportunity was brought to McKinney by search consultant Pile and Company. McKinney participated in a highly competitive pitch process which lasted several months. Ultimately, McKinney won the business based on their ability to develop creative ideas - born from simple human insights - that span across digital and social, coupled with their unique expertise in the category (the agency has worked with Columbia, Skechers, Shoe Show, and Crocs). Making this win even more personal, McKinney’s team is full of passionate runners who were able to road test the shoes during the pitch process, which ignited their enthusiasm for the brand.
“Partnering with an iconic brand that has the ability to empower the next generation of runners is going to be very rewarding,” said Joe Maglio, CEO of McKinney. “Over the years, PUMA has shaped the culture around sport and they have been instrumental in driving social change in the space. We’re excited to partner with them.”
In addition to now having several major clients based in the Boston area, including Stop & Shop, McKinney also recently joined the Ad Club of Greater Boston, a sign of their excitement about the advertising community in the city.
About PUMA®
PUMA is one of the world’s leading Sports Brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. For 75 years, PUMA has relentlessly pushed sport and culture forward by creating fast products for the world’s fastest athletes. PUMA offers performance and sport-inspired lifestyle products in categories such as Football, Running and Training, Basketball, Golf, and Motorsports. It collaborates with renowned designers and brands to bring sport influences into street culture and fashion. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 18,300 people worldwide, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany. https://about.puma.com/
About McKinney
McKinney is a creative and media agency headquartered in Durham, NC, with locations in Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and New York. Part of the Cheil Worldwide network, McKinney’s footprint gives us direct access to Main Street America while being steeped in the latest in entertainment, emerging trends, and innovation. We partner with clients — from the top marketers in the world to nonprofits — to help them realize their untapped potential.
We’ve been recognized by Cannes Lions, Effies, The One Show, D&AD, ANDY, CLIO, LIA, the Shortys, and The Webby Awards, among others. McKinney works with brands, across a broad range of categories, to create and implement a modern communications ecosystem. Some of our current client partners include Blue Diamond Growers, Pampers, Little Caesars, Puma Running, Stop & Shop, ESPN, Samsung, Columbia Sportswear, Sherwin-Williams and Choice Hotels International, as well as pro bono clients Urban Ministries of Durham and the Ad Council. For more information, visit mckinney.com.
