Translation's Steve Stoute Named Advertising Age's Executive of the Year

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jan 29, 2013) - Translation LLC, a privately-owned, full-service advertising agency, announced today that its Founder and CEO, Steve Stoute, has been named the 2013 Executive of the Year by top industry trade Advertising Age. The honor is part of the publication's closely watched annual Agency A-List ranking, which recognizes agency excellence based on creativity, performance and ability to positively impact a client's business.

A powerful innovator in brand marketing, Stoute founded Translation to help Fortune 500 companies thrive in the world of popular culture. Less than a decade after opening its doors, the agency boasts an impressive client roster that includes such iconic brands as McDonald's, State Farm, Target, Estee Lauder, Budweiser, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co, Microsoft, Coca-Cola and Lady Gaga.

Prior to founding Translation, Stoute spent more than 10 years as a senior executive at several leading music labels, including Sony and Interscope Geffen A&M Records. With this background, he has become an expert at finding the perfect intersection between pop-culture and advertising to create campaigns that resonate with a new generation of consumers.

Much of Translation's work, therefore, is based on Stoute's philosophy about the changing landscape of American culture and how people are all moving towards a shared cultural complexion. Building on this idea, Stoute authored his acclaimed 2011 book, The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture that Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, in which he teaches corporate America how to understand and reach today's youth market -- what he describes as "The Tan Generation" -- and stay true to their core brands without seeming inauthentic. 

The Ad Age announcement comes on the heels of a highly successful 2012 for the agency, which included a 60 percent increase in revenue and an increase in staff from 70 to more than 120 employees. Additionally, the agency did not lose or resign a piece of client business.

The full listing can be seen here: Steve Stoute Is Ad Age's Executive of the Year (1.28.13)

About Translation
Founded by Steve Stoute in 2004, Translation has a strong heritage in helping Fortune 500 companies thrive in contemporary culture. Today, Translation has evolved into a full-service communications agency servicing key clients including State Farm, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Target and Anheuser-Busch. The agency is dedicated to creating transformative ideas that don't just market a brand differently, but change how that brand resonates in culture. In order to stay attuned to the influential edge of pop culture, Translation employs culture creators who often complement their day jobs with secondary careers in art, fashion, music and entertainment.