STEVE BLAMER
Steve has been working in advertising for more than 25 years with some of the world's largest and most respected client organizations such as Procter & Gamble, Mars, Panasonic, and Olive Garden.

He ran Grey Worldwide North America, a results-driven full service agency with eight offices across the US and Canada and the largest agency in New York City at the time. Before that he was the CEO to Grey’s second largest international office - Grey London and Managing Director of Grey LA.

He was also Global CEO of FCB before he recommended that it be merged into Draft in 2006. Steve has been involved in more than 500 agency reviews and negotiated hundreds of agency-client contracts. He understands the frustrations both clients and agencies have with the review process and review consultants. He and his partners set out to change the way reviews and compensation negotiations are conducted. Blamer and his partners have worked together for many years and their seniority, global experience and understanding of agency capabilities and compensation is unmatched in the consulting field. Steve’s focus on accountability and client results helped Grey London and Grey New York cut costs, grow revenue and establish new client relationships that helped Grey's profits reach new heights—all based on a system of accountability and a defined Scope of Work.

Steve is married to his bride of more than 30 years. They have two children, three dogs and live in both New York and Santa Fe.

LINDA FOSTER
Linda joined Blamer Partnership to provide her expertise and experience from her many years on the client side of the business.

Linda's background includes operations, sales and marketing for some of the most prestigious companies in the United State. For over 25 years, she has worked for a wide range of companies including Lord & Taylor, Toy R Us, Motherhood Maternity, Polo-Ralph Lauren, Nutrisystem and Great Expectations.

Linda has always been a highly motivated team leader with unique entrepreneurial skills managing teams and departments of up to 900 employees. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty while always being a problem solver. Most recently, Linda developed and managed the direct response call center for Great Expectations as well as ran their US franchise operations.

Linda works with all the partners at Blamer Partnership to provide the client perspective on all agency compensation and search projects.

Linda's passion and expertise are important ingredients for all Blamer Partnership assignments.

CRAIG B. CAMPBELL
Craig has a 40-year track record of success beginning with McCann-Erickson. He later joined Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) and eventually became the General Manager of their Los Angeles office, which was the largest advertising agency on the West Coast. His FCB client associations include Nestle, Denny's, Mars, MCA, Albertson's, Sunkist, Farmers Insurance and Mattel.

After a client conflict developed, the CEO of First Interstate Bancorp encouraged Craig to leave FCB and start his own agency to service the regional bank network. This led to the creation of Campbell and Wagman, which was recognized as one of the best independent agencies. Clients included Marshalls, ARCO, First Interstate Bank (acquired by Wells Fargo), Vittel, Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE).

After Campbell and Wagman, Craig joined Evans Group (acquired by Publicis) as the President of their integrated communications company in Los Angeles. Craig was instrumental in helping rebuild their operation. Major clients included PetSmart and Bank of America.

In 1997 Craig created Campbell and Associates, a private management consulting organization with a wide spectrum of clients including United Airlines and Acxiom Marketing Services--Digital Impact.

He is a former Governor of the American Association of Advertising Agencies and a Pepperdine University board member.

Craig lives in Palos Verdes Estates, California with his wife of over 40 years. They have two children and a Labrador Retriever.

LARRY VARNES
Larry has a very unique background. He spent his entire advertising career at one single agency – Grey Worldwide. Over a 35-year span, he personally led every agency discipline with the exception of creative and production. Larry knows the agency business from inside out.

Over his career, Larry led account services and headed marketing services (research, account planning and strategy development). He even served as an interim Media Director. Larry led the agency’s move into interactive communications long before it was widely recognized (or accepted).

Larry understands accountability. Results were the mantra he lived by. As Grey’s Chief Strategic Officer, Larry worked closely in the development of successful marketing, creative and media strategies for all major Western Division clients including Bank of America, Honda Motorcycles, BMW, Taco Bell, Pedigree, Roman Meal and Vons Grocery. There isn’t a major product category Larry hasn’t touched. Larry also brings a wealth of experience in business development. He led Grey’s business development efforts in the West for nearly eight years.

This wide array of experience led Larry to become part of a managing triumvirate that oversaw Grey’s Western Division. He retired from agency life as Vice Chairman of the Los Angeles office and operated a successful consultancy for a number of years.

Larry was also an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at his alma mater, California State University Northridge, where he also served on the Board of Business Advisors. He is a former Trustee of Independent Colleges of Southern California and a past Director of the American Advertising Federation.

Larry believes in volunteerism serving those in need. He rose to become national Chairman of the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association and was responsible for bringing the organization a strategic discipline that led to cohesive branding emanating from an integrated marketing approach.

Larry lives with his wife, Maureen, an hour north of Dallas, Texas. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

DENNIS KERSLAKE

Dennis started his career in marketing management with Beecham Group [now Glaxo SmithKline] and also worked client-side with Courage, where he worked in new product development, and was involved in the launch of Miller Lite in the UK.

He started in the agency world with IMP [part of the Darcy group], and then started his own agency, LGM, which he built up over 9 years and sold to Incepta .

He has subsequently held MD, CEO and Chairman roles in the major marketing services groups including Omnicom, Havas and, most recently Publicis, where he also had international responsibility for the Hewlett-Packard business across more than 40 markets. He has worked with some of the world’s leading companies including P&G, Coca Cola, Citi, British Airways, and Allied Domecq.

His expertise truly spans the full array of marketing services disciplines with genuine hands-on experience in advertising, digital, direct and experiential.

Having worked both sides of the client-agency fence he is acutely aware of the needs of both, and ideally placed to drive the clarity and accountability required if successful long-term partnerships are to be maintained.

Dennis is a Mentor at Merryck & Co, the world’s foremost business leader mentoring company that helps senior business leaders build successful businesses and lead fulfilling lives.

He has been married for 27 years, has two "children" at university and lives half way between London and Oxford.