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Frank Palmer, Judy John and Don Watt to join the Hall of Marketing Gold

By Staff 
May 10, 2023

The 2023 Hall of Marketing Gold class has been announced, with a trio of inductees known for trailblazing leadership and inspired thinking: Frank Palmer, Judy John and Don Watt.

Frank Palmer founded Palmer Jarvis in 1974 with partner George Jarvis, an agency that would become Palmer Jarvis DDB after its sale to Omnicom in 1998 (later becoming DDB Canada in 2004). Among Palmer Jarvis’ award-winning and recognized work are campaigns for the likes of McDonald’s, SunRype, Playland, Hockey Canada and dozens of other clients.

In addition, talent that has come up through Palmer’s agencies have gone on to start some of the most renowned agencies in Canada today, such as Rethink, 123w and Broken Heart Love Affair. After leaving DDB in 2019, he returned to the industry when he launched PS&Co with Bob Stamnes.

Judy John had been working under Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin at Ogilvy & Mather when she was hired by Leo Burnett in 1999. That began a 20-year run with the agency in which she would not only lead a creative department that produced work like Always’ “#LikeAGirl” and IKEA’s “Cook This Page” (among many other award-winning campaigns), but later hold to rare dual remit of CEO and CCO.

In 2019, she left Leo to become the first global CCO at Edelman, tasked with applying her own audacious spirit to developing the creative prowess at an agency best known for PR.

Don Watt is the mind behind some of the most recognizable designs in Canada and the world.

At home, Watt is likely best known for his work with Loblaw, be it helping the grocer revamp its store design amid a sales slump, or coming up with the iconic No Name visual identity and the enduring handwritten President’s Choice logo. He also led the charge on designs for multiple Walmart store concepts and house brands, and is credited with creating the logo used by The Home Depot for more than four decades. Watt passed away in 2009 at the age of 74.

This year’s inductees will be recognized at this year’s Marketing Awards gala on June 6 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. More info can be found on the Marketing Awards website.