Last year, Tombras built on momentum gained in 2021, adding Kettle Chips, PODS, Sweethearts Candy and Pernod Ricard's Chivas Regal to its list of clients. The wins helped Tombras increase revenue 17% to nearly $90 million in 2022, while media billings reached $600 million.
Special Report: Agency A-List & Creativity Awards
Tombras continues creative momentum with viral social media work and key hires
The agency is a Standout on Ad Age’s 2023 Agency A-List
The Tombras team in Knoxville, Tennessee, during the spring 2022 all-agency party.
Credit:
Tombras
The boost in revenue brought with it four integral C-suite hires, including Wieden+Kennedy vet Maggie Jennings as the agency’s first ever chief growth officer and R/GA alum Juan Tubert as the agency’s first chief technology officer. Tombras also grew its headcount to nearly 500 and expanded its New York presence with an office in Tribeca.
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The Knoxville, Tennessee-based independent agency also continued with key work for top clients Subway, Orange Theory Fitness and Steak-umm. As the voice of Steak-umm’s Twitter account, Tombras introduced “The Steaksperson” and over the summer launched steak-scented “beef sheets” for beds that sold out in minutes.
The agency built on its 2021 work with Subway—which included a secret menu launch and a collaboration with former NFL football player Marshawn Lynch—by partnering with pro basketball player Stephen Curry. In a spin on the “game-stained” collectible, Curry’s “sandwich-stained” jersey—smeared with red sauce from his meatball sub—was auctioned on eBay to raise money for Eat.Learn.Play., Stephen and Ayesha Curry's foundation.
To increase diversity in the ad industry, Tombras expanded its endowment at the University of Tennessee with the launch of the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations. The four-year goal is to double the number of non-white graduates entering the ad world. Its 2022/2023 freshman class already shows a 40% increase in Black students, a 12.5% increase in Asian students and an 11% increase in multiracial students.
Tombras tripled its people of color hires in 2022 and no longer requires applicants to have a college degree. It has also implemented internship and internal programs to support people of color and LGBTQIA+ staff.
