Young & Laramore (Y&L) today announced that Chris Holland has joined the independent creative agency as its first Director of Growth. Reporting directly to President & CEO Tom Denari, Holland will lead the agency’s business development strategy and help translate Y&L’s creative and strategic reputation into sustained growth.
In the newly created role, Holland will oversee Y&L’s full growth ecosystem, including lead generation and prospecting, agency marketing and public relations, relationship development and pitch management. He will focus on identifying and building relationships with ambitious brands looking for a refresh or a new perspective.
“We’ve built a national reputation from Indianapolis by consistently delivering engaging, smart creative, built through a deep understanding of consumer behavior. The opportunity now is to bring that story to more brands, and that requires someone focused entirely on growth,” said Tom Denari, President & CEO of Young & Laramore. “Chris brings national brand experience, a natural ability to build relationships and he understands what makes Y&L distinctive.”
Holland began his advertising career at The Odyssey, an Indiana University-based media startup, where he eventually became head of client services in the company’s New York office. There, he led campaigns for brands including Red Bull Media House, Paramount, Starbucks, Verizon, PepsiCo, Bumble and KIND while helping the company grow to more than 174 employees and a network of over 10,000 contributors. Most recently, Holland worked at GSD&M in Austin, where he helped lead experiential and digital marketing for the United States Air Force and Space Force.
“For decades, Y&L has quietly built a reputation as one of the country’s most respected independent agencies; building brands, launching categories, and delivering work that rivals firms many times its size,” said Holland. “My role is to help more marketers discover what clients have always known: Y&L brings the strategic depth, creative work, and partnership of a world-class agency without the layers and limitations that often come with larger holding-company networks.”
Holland joins Y&L as the agency builds on a reputation for helping brands find distinctive positions and turn them into long-term growth. Its work includes transforming Delta Faucet’s premium line into Brizo, a luxury lifestyle brand as well as recent campaigns featuring Caitlin Clark for Gainbridge, world No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters for Paddletek, and culturally driven collaborations for Dum Dums.
ABOUT YOUNG & LARAMORE
Young & Laramore (Y&L) is an award-winning independent creative agency based in Indianapolis, known for its work across brand strategy, design, advertising, marketing and media. Located in a restored 19th-century schoolhouse, Y&L reflects its building—identifying first and foremost as students of the consumer. Proudly independent, Y&L answers to no one but its clients and its own compass. The agency believes the ideal creative partnership is just that: a true partnership. Y&L works with brands including Brizo, Cummins, DEWALT, Dum Dums, Bit-O-Honey, Rust-Oleum and Goodwill.
Y&L is also the creator of UNREASONABLE: A Modern Look at Consumer Motivations, its annual consumer behavior conference which explores the emotional, psychological and social forces that shape consumer decision-making. This year’s event will take place September 30th in Indianapolis.
For tickets, click here.
