Specs
Who Co-founders and managing partners Sherman Wright (l.) and Ahmad Islam
What Marketing agency
Where Chicago
Agency vets Wright and Islam bumped into one another while vacationing in Cancun and bonded over the frustrations of looming early midlife crises. Tequila-fueled conversations ensued, a business plan was sketched in the sand, and in late 2003 Commonground was born. The 130-person shop prides itself on its diverse staff and collaborative environment. And clients including Coca-Cola, NBCUniversal, Bacardi, Miller Lite and Target hire it for multicultural work as well as general-market advertising. “That’s about our expertise as well as diversity,” said Islam. “We provide our clients with a unique lens on the world.” Commonground expanded from its Chicago roots into New York last summer after winning Verizon’s African-American assignment.